We all probably thought we knew all the iPod facts we would ever need to know considering that Apple killed the line off not that long ago. However, their recent revival of the iPod Touch means that the iPod improbably lives on.
However, there’s probably quite a bit about the iPod’s original run you didn’t know. To make sure you’re up to speed, here are 22 iPod facts we bet you didn’t know.
Tony Fadell, The iPod’s Creator, Came Up With The Idea Because He Was a Frustrated DJ
No, the iPod wasn’t a Steve Jobs invention. It was actually dreamed up by a man named Tony Fadell.
While others had surely come up with the idea of the iPod before, Fadell was particularly inspired to create it due to his time as a DJ. It seems that Fadell was tired of carrying so many CDs and felt there must be a better way.
Two Other Companies Rejected the iPod Idea
You’d think that any company would recognize that the iPod was a brilliant idea. However, after Fadell failed to push the product through his failed Fuse company, two other companies rejected the idea outright.
Yes, both RealNetworks and Philips turned Fadell away when he pitched them the iPod concept. Of course, it’s doubtful that either would have been able to develop it quite like Apple did.
The Name Was Inspired by 2001 A Space Odyssey
If you think about it, the iPod name doesn’t make much sense. What’s a pod got to do with music?
It turns out that the name came from Vinnie Chieco, a copywriter, who got it from a line in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey in which
David Bowman says “Open the pod bay door, Hal.”
Apple Wasn’t the First Company to Register (or Use) the iPod Name
While a copywriter may have suggested the iPod name to Apple, they weren’t the first ones to use it. Joseph N. Grasso actually planned on using the name for a series of internet kiosks. Apple didn’t actually take over the trademark until 2005.
Curiously, a company in Michigan known as the Chrysalis Corp. also used the iPod name in 2001.
The First iPod Was Modeled After the 1958 Braun T3 Transistor Radio
Steve Jobs never claimed every Apple design was “original,” but the first iPod was clearly inspired by an existing product.
Of course, not many people probably knew what the 1958 Braun T3 Transistor Radio looked like when the iPod was released. In retrospect, though, the resemblance is downright hilarious.
The First iPod Wasn’t Actually That Successful
The iPod may be a cultural staple, but it certainly didn’t start out that way.
Due to the iPod’s absurd price point ($399) and the fact it was only compatible with Macs, not many people ever bothered to buy the first iPod model. That’s part of the reason why they are so valuable today.
The Original iPod Featured a Secret Video Game
If you happen to own an original iPod, do yourself a favor and hold down the center button for a few seconds while you’re in the “About” menu. This will cause a secret video game called Brick to load.
This game is a tribute to Apple co-creator Steve Wozniak who also helped create the classic game Breakout (which Brick is a copy of).
Musicmatch Jukebox Is a Big Reason Why the iPod Was a Hit
We’re going to go ahead and guess that not many people know the name “Musicmatch Jukebox.” However, that service helped make the iPod a success.
Why? Well, it’s because Musicmatch Jukebox helped people finally use iPods on Windows devices. This greatly increased the appeal and versatility of the product.
The iPod Photo Was the First to Feature a Color Screen
The name iPod Photo probably doesn’t ring too many bells these days, but it introduced a feature that was probably long overdue.
Yes, the iPod Photo was the first to feature a color screen. It’s actually quite an odd device. Less than a year after its release, Apple dropped the iPod Photo name and essentially made the Photo the new iPod 4.
The Obscure iPod 5.5 Is Beloved by Audiophiles
Technically, there is no such thing as the iPod Generation 5.5. It’s the name given to the iPod 5 after it received a software update.
This software upgrade upgraded the base model just enough to become a favorite among audiophiles as it made the iPod 5’s already excellent audio that much better.
The iPod Nano 2nd Generation Was the First to Feature a Search Option
It’s hard to imagine an iPod without a feature as simple as the ability to search through your songs, but it wasn’t until 2006 that Apple released an iPod that allowed you to search.
Actually, the beloved “iPod 5.5” is most easily distinguished from the iPod 5 due to the search function the .5 update added to that model.
The iPod Mini Had a Laughably Bad Battery
The iPod Mini’s 8-hour battery life is odd for several reasons. First off, it was never considered an impressive battery life. Second, it was two hours less battery life than the previous model of iPod.
However, the biggest problem with the iPod Mini’s battery is that it actually quickly got worse the more you used it. This led to the creation of a sizable third-party market for battery replacements.
It Took Six Years for Apple to Issue an iPod Nano Recall
Apple usually stops caring about products after they’ve been replaced by a generation or two of new models, which makes the case of the iPod Nano recall that much stranger.
After fans spent years saying the batteries on their iPod Nanos were overheating, Apple finally relented and issued a recall. It was a bizarre wait to address a problem that was seemingly fairly common.
The iPod Shuffle Was Invented Because People Apparently Didn’t Care What They Listened To
The iPod Shuffle has always been an odd device. It lacked nearly every feature that made an iPod notable (as well as basic functionality like the ability to pick songs), and was seen by many as Apple’s attempt to gouge those who couldn’t afford a proper iPod.
However, Apple claims that their design of the iPod shuffle was based on research that showed most users just set their iPods to “shuffle.” As such, they figured the best way to develop a budget model would be to focus on that feature.
The First iPod Shuffle Was Also a USB Flash Drive
Some of you may remember this, but it’s downright hilarious to consider that the first iPod Shuffle was basically just a USB Flash Drive.
Yes, you could use the Shuffle like a flash drive. All you had to do was designate how much space was for music and how much was for data.
Apple Didn’t Release an Orange iPod Until 2007
Despite pushing so many colors of iPods over the years, Apple didn’t release an orange iPod until 2007 when they released an orange iPod Shuffle.
It’s not clear why it took so long for Apple to utilize such a major color outside of their infamous reliance on market research.
Avon Released a Highly Coveted Gold iPod Shuffle
Fun (additional) fact: Apple pivoted away from gold-colored products after the iPod Mini supposedly due to the color’s poor sales. However, the color remained popular among some hardcore fans.
It’s why the Gold iPod Shuffle 2 released by Avon as part of a special promotion is so coveted to this day. Sadly, few people ever seemed to actually get their hands on one.
The Notoriously Bad iPod Shuffle (3rd Generation) Had No Volume Controls
The iPod Shuffle 3 is considered to be the worst iPod ever made and one of the worst Apple products ever. There are many reasons why, but near the top of that list is the device’s lack of volume controls.
Yes, you couldn’t directly control the volume of your iPod Shuffle 3 through your iPod Shuffle 3. Instead, Apple required you to utilize the volume control options they had just added to the latest model of their headphones. Hilariously, most modern headphones don’t even work with the iPod Shuffle 3.
Steve Jobs Called the iPod Touch “Training Wheels for the iPhone”
The iPod Touch was Apple’s last gasp at keeping the iPod relevant in the age of the iPhone, but we would have never expected Steve Jobs to be so open about the device’s place in the world.
Yet, that’s exactly what he did when he referred to the device as “Training Wheels for the iPhone.” Basically, he was saying it was intended for people (mostly kids) who weren’t quite ready for the smartphone leap.
The iPod Touch Supreme Sold For $231,776
While classic iPods regularly sell for quite the markup, the most expensive iPod of them all sold for $231,776.
The iPod Touch Supreme sported 149g of solid gold and 300 diamonds. As you can imagine, it was quite gaudy.
The iPhone First Outsold the iPod in 2010
While you may think that the iPhone would have instantly killed the iPod, the truth isn’t quite that simple.
In fact, it took three years for the iPhone to finally outsell the iPod. That speaks to the device’s popularity and versatility.
Apple Created 2000 Limited Edition Beverly Hills, 90210 iPods For…Some Reason
Apple created quite a few special edition iPods over the years. U2 had some, Tony Hawk had one, and even Harry Potter got in on the action.
However, the award for strangest special edition iPod goes to the 90210 iPod Nano. This iPod was released by CBS in celebration of their 90210 reboot. Oddly, though, this ugly iPod Nano featured etchings of the series’ original cast.
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