Opera Web Browser

Internet Explorer is the most popular Internet browser in the world. Yet, it is laden with security flaws and is the target of all sorts of evildoers. Internet Explorer comes pre-installed on Windows computers, but you don't have to stick with it. It's easy to download and use another Web browser. In fact, while Microsoft is busy trying to solve their Internet Explorer security problems, several other Web browsers have surpassed Internet Explorer in their sleekness, speed, and features. Opera is one such browser.
Opera can be downloaded at the Opera Software Web site. It installs quickly and easily. During the installation you are prompted to let Opera copy your Favorites from your current Web browser making the transition effortless. While Opera has an e-mail client, you don't have to use it. You can simply download Opera and use it as your browser.
Opera is less than half the size of Internet Explorer, yet it has several features that leave Internet Explorer in the dust. The first is called "tabbed browsing". When you open an Internet page in Opera, it will have a tab at the top of the page. Then when you open another page and it will also have a tab. This makes it simple to switch between Web pages; just click on the tab of the Window you want to view. It is also easy to see all the different pages you have open at any given time. It is perfect when you are researching any subject and is useful even for everyday Web surfing.
Another great feature of Opera is the ability to save the session you are working on. For instance, if you are researching a health issue and have five pages open, you simply click on Tools, then Preferences. Choose "Continue from last time" and close Opera. Next time you open Opera, you will be right where you left off. I keep this as my default setting so I don't even have to click on Tools or Preferences. Opera knows that I want to start each session showing all the Web pages that I was using in my last session.
My favorite Opera feature is called Mouse Gestures. Once this feature is turned on you can simply move your mouse to perform tasks that would otherwise require placing your mouse on a specific icon or menu choice. It works like this. Hold down the right mouse button and move the mouse to the left to go to a previous page. Hold the right mouse button and move the mouse to the right to go to the next page. There are mouse gestures for many frequently performed operations, and once you learn just a few them you can dramatically speed up your Web browsing.
The Opera Web browser is extremely customizable. You can use pre-formatted "skins" to change the look of the browser. Not only is this fun, but also, if you have any visual difficulties, you can choose a look that is easier on your eyes. In fact, you can even design your own buttons and choose your own colors if you don't find any pre-designed skins that you like. You can also customize the panels that appear on the left side of the Opera window to provide one-touch access to various functions. Opera even lets you create a Personal Toolbar where you can have direct access to your most visited Web sites.
That's not all. Opera has a pop-up blocker, a password manager and a download manager. You can zoom in and out to make the text larger by pressing the + and - keys. You can easily set the text size to whatever is best for your eyes. The printing functions are also better than those in Internet Explorer.
The best part is that all these great features don't cost anything. The free version of Opera has some ads at the top of the screen, but I find them unobjectionable and barely noticeable. If you don't like the ads, you can purchase a paid version without ads for $39. The paid version, also gives you better access to tech support. If you try the free version of Opera and like it, you may want to buy the paid version just to support a great company that is giving Microsoft a run for its money.
Whether you are trying to escape the insecurities of Internet Explorer or looking for a better Web browser, give Opera a try. There's a lot to like here.

Firefox Add-ons Enhance Web Browsing

Firefox is an increasingly popular and powerful Web browsing alternative. But installation is only the beginning of the fun. Hundreds of small software add-ons can teach Firefox exciting new tricks and tailor it to your individual needs and preferences in ways that other browsers can't match.
After installing Firefox, click Tools and then Extensions. For now, ignore the three grayed-out buttons and click Get More Extensions. This displays the main Firefox add-ons Web page that offers four kinds of add-ons: extensions, plugins, search engines, and themes.
Extensions are small programs that add new features to Firegox such as toolbar buttons, improved privacy and security, and easier operation. Almost two dozen extension categories are listed, with recently updated and most popular extensions highlighted separately. Clicking an extension's name shows you its information page that includes a description and version identification, the number of times it's been downloaded, browser versions supported, occasional user reviews, and a prominent Install Now button indicating the download's size.
Installation simply involves clicking the button, following instructions, perhaps setting options, and restarting Firefox. Extensions make me even more enthusiastic about Firefox. I'd hate to lose AdBlock (blocks annoying Web ads), Print Preview (adds toolbar button to show how Web page will print), Session Saver (remembers Web pages open when Firefox is closed), and Hyperwords (makes every Web page word a link for searching, e-mailing, and more). While extensions are quite safe and easily removed, for caution I suggest avoiding the newest of them with low version numbers and only a few downloads shown.
After you install extensions, the Uninstall, Options, and Find Updates buttons in the Tools/Extensions dialogue box will be enabled. Remove extensions by selecting them, clicking Uninstall, and restarting Firefox. Click the Options button to explore and customize a selected extension's capabilities and settings. Click on Find Updates occasionally to ensure that you're running current extension versions, especially after installing new Firefox versions since they may require updated extensions.
Plugins are programs that allow Web site content to appear in your browser instead of in separate applications. They are available for Acrobat Reader, Flash Player, Java, Quicktime, Realplayer, Shockwave, and Windows Media Player. You can install plugins you know you'll need or wait to be prompted when you attempt to display content that needs one.
One of Firefox's friendliest features, the Google search, isn't widely used. It's text entry area is located to the right of the display window for Web page URLs, near the upper right corner. It initially shows the Google "G" logo, indicating that it's ready to search Google. Enter a search term, press Enter, and you'll see Google's results. Firefox is also configured with a few other search engines. Click the G-logo for a drop-down menu of other sites which can be searched the same way, and several dozen other search engines can be installed from the add-ons page.
Finally, the add-ons page offers different browser skins or themes that allow you to personalize the browser's look and feel. A theme can simply change colors, or it can tweak every aspect the browser's appearance.
Firefox is one of the Mozilla Foundation's two main applications. Thunderbird, an e-mail client, is the second and has similar add-ins available Let's be grateful for such useful software, written by volunteers, available free of charge.

Identity Theft Tips

Identity theft is a serious concern in today's high-paced technical world. There are many Internet users worried about phishing schemes, bogus Web sites, and online credit card theft. Yet, a recent survey reports that identity theft is more often initiated from paper sources rather than the Internet. The 2005 Identity Fraud Survey sponsored by the Better Business Bureau, VISA, Wells Fargo and CheckFree Corporation, contradicts the common belief that most identity theft is performed online.
Ken Hunter, CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, reiterates the essence of the report. "Most instances of identity fraud occur through traditional channels and are paper-based, such as a lost or stolen wallet, a checkbook, credit card, a piece of mail. By making a few, simple changes, consumers can improve their identity safety and help protect themselves against this type of fraud." Hunter said that Internet users who watch their financial accounts online are often able to detect fraud earlier than those who rely the usual mailed monthly paper statements.
The report also sites that these crimes are more likely to be committed by someone you know rather than a stranger. So while you keep alert to online schemes, don't get complacent about your everyday financial paper trail. Experts advise that you don't carry your social security card or number in your wallet, that you shred any financial documents before trashing them, and that you carefully monitor incoming and outgoing paper mail.
Be careful out there!

Ultra-Mobile PC

Are you ready for yet another cryptic abbreviation to add to your high-tech acronym repertoire? You should be, because the device being called the UMPC (Ultra-Mobile PC) may be just useful enough to really catch on.
The UMPC began as Project Origami, a joint development exercise between Microsoft, Intel, and Samsung, and is a small lightweight computer (approximately two pounds) that uses the Windows XP Tablet PC operating system. Its seven-inch or smaller diagonal display is equipped with an integrated touch screen. They connect to the Internet through a wireless WiFi connection in your home or via a hotspot, or with a Bluethooth-enabeled wireless phone. These fully-functional PCs will allow you to check news and weather, send and receive email, work in Office and other software programs, and play music and games.
Microsoft has already announced UMPC models by Samsung, Asus, and Founder. Founder is currently shipping their UMPC device in China. Samsung will soon debut their unit in Korea. No formal launch date for the U.S. has been set by any of these companies.
Although many different manufacturers currently produce tablet PCs, they are larger and more cumbersome. The UMPC may be just small and connected enough to create a niche for itself.

Vulnerability Found in Some Symantec Products

We often hear about vulnerabilities in Microsoft products that allow viruses to enter computers. Today, however, the news is about a virus attacking through a weakness in software that is supposed to protect you from such attacks.
eEye Digital Security, a noted security vendor, recently provided an alert regarding a susceptibility in Symantec Antivirus that allows a hacker to infiltrate and take control of a computer system that is running certain Symantec software. Shortly after the eEye's alert, Symantec confirmed the veracity of the story. The finding of this security flaw is of special importance since Symantec is one of the world's leading makers of antivirus software.
Fortunately for home users, the flaw is found only in Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition and Symantec Client Security 3.x. Home users of Norton Antivirus and Norton Internet Security products are not at risk. Symantec is working on a patch to eliminate the problem and will download the fix to corporate users as soon as it is available.

Sony Handycam DCR-VX1000

Thank Sony for introducing digital video editing to the desktop. Before it released the Handycam DCR-VX1000, if you wanted to edit video on a PC you had to invest thousands of dollars in an expansion card to digitize analog footage. The DCR-VX1000 was the first camcorder to capture in the mini-DV format, and the first with a FireWire port for transferring digital video to a PC. The DCR-VX1000 cost nearly $4000, but it offered dramatically better video quality, and less-expensive models soon followed. For more, see Sony's

BlackBerry 850 Wireless Handheld (1998)

Canadian firm Research in Motion didn't invent e-mail, wireless data networks, the handheld, or the QWERTY keyboard. But with the little BlackBerry, along with server software that made e-mail appear on it without any effort from the recipient, RIM put it all together in a way that even nontechie executives could appreciate--and thereby opened the eyes of corporate America to the potential of wireless communications. So addictive that some call them CrackBerries, RIM's ubiquitous e-mail communicators--especially their high-res displays and small yet serviceable thumb keyboards--have forever changed the design aesthetic for personal digital assistants, while their approach to e-mail has become the standard by which all connected handhelds are measured. To learn more about BlackBerry on the Web,

PlayStation 2's Dazzling Graphics Steal Show

A million units sold in a single weekend. Long lines. Government warnings about illegal exports. Sony's hugely hyped PlayStation 2 launched in Japan in March and should arrive stateside this fall. It joins Sega's Dreamcast in the vanguard of new Internet-ready game consoles powerful enough to perform traditional PC functions, including Web browsing. Microsoft plans to join the fray next fall.
The Japanese launch of PlayStation 2 had problems--a bug in some memory cards, another bug that illegally allowed users to play DVDs from other countries. Neither problem is expected to affect the product's U.S. release.
The Play's the ThingPlayStation 2's slick black exterior looks sharp, but what sets gamers aquiver is the PS2's CPU--the 300-MHz Emotion. With twice the floating-point performance (a type of calculation used heavily in 3D graphics) of a Pentium III-700, the PlayStation can drive 3D games with graphics power unheard of on today's computers--at a fraction of the price. Polygons are the building blocks of 3D games, and the PlayStation 2 pushes them around faster than anything else can (see "Consoles Scream Past PCs").
The early PS2 games--Street Fighter Ex and Ridge Racer V--that we tested on a Japanese unit ran impressively, but not far beyond the level of Sega's Dreamcast. Though PlayStation 2 games far surpass PC games in graphics quality, the actual game play is nothing special. This limitation should change as developers gain familiarity with the system.
DVD playback was on a par with that of a stand-alone DVD player. The PS2 even includes an optical digital connector so you can hook the console up to your stereo for a full DVD audio experience.
Perhaps the most tantalizing aspect of the PlayStation 2 is its potential for expansion via its USB and high-speed I.Link (Sony's name for IEEE 1394) ports. No specific products have been announced, but likely additions include a keyboard, a mouse, a hard drive, and broadband Internet access. Still, Microprocessor Report editor-in-chief Keith Diefendorff says consumers may not want to do traditional PC functions on game boxes.
Sega recently announced a $200 rebate for its Dreamcast (PS2's main competitor) for those who sign up for two years of Internet access at $22 a month. Though less powerful than the PS2, the Dreamcast ships with Web browsing software and a built-in 56-kbps modem.
The X-Box FactorMicrosoft's first gaming console, the X-Box, will be based on a modified Windows NT kernel and will ship with PC-like hardware such as a Pentium III-600. The X-Box will also support Internet access and DVD-movie playback. Details are hazier about Nintendo's Dolphin console, also due next fall. If you love games and need only basic Internet tools, your next PC may be a game console.

ReplayTV RTV2001 and TiVo HDR110

The appearance of the first ReplayTV and TiVo models--the pioneering Gemini of digital video recording--in the number three spot on our list may be a measure of how much we all hate TV commercials. The concept is simple: Digitize the TV signal and stream it to an internal hard drive, so the user can pause, rewind, fast-forward, or record programs at will. For the first time, users flummoxed by their VCRs (#29) could record an entire season of shows with a few clicks of the remote. And yes, it may be cheating to count these two products as one, but they appeared at virtually the same time, and each brought different yet important strengths to the DVR table. TiVo undoubtedly won the brand-recognition competition: When Janet Jackson suffered her infamous "wardrobe malfunction" at the 2004 Super Bowl, thousands of viewers "TiVo'd it"--over and over and over. ReplayTV, on the other hand, was more aggressive with commercial-skipping and networking features. In any event, the success of these products may be their undoing, as digital video recorders become a standard feature of cable and satellite set-top boxes. Eric W. Lund has more than you'd probably want to know about earlier models of both.

Apple iPod

2001
January 9, 2001 Apple introduces iTunes for the Macintosh, a program that converts audio CDs into compressed digital audio files, organizes digital music collections, and plays Internet radio.October 23, 2001 Apple unexpectedly announces the first iPod (codename Dulcimer) at a price of $399. Unlike most (but not all) competing digital audio players available at the time, Apple relies on a hard disk for storage instead of flash memory or interchangeable CD-ROMs, and uniquely focuses on promoting the small size, power, and ease of use of its device. The first iPod has a 5 GB storage capacity - enough for over 1,000 songs - and works only on Macs, using iTunes as a music organization and CD-to-iPod conversion tool. Did Apple release iTunes with the iPod in mind? According to an official Apple timeline, development of the iPod began only six months earlier. November 10, 2001 Apple ships the first iPod.
Mid-November, 2001 Third-party developers begin to write workaround software that lets the iPod work with PCs. While first demo versions of the software are available in January of 2002, final versions won’t emerge until June of 2002.
December 31, 2001 By the end of 2001, Apple has sold a total of 125,000 iPods.
2002
March 20, 2002 Apple announces a 10GB / 2,000 song update to the iPod for $499. Taking a cue from crafty third-party developers, Apple ships new iPods with the ability to display business card-like contact information, a feature that makes some wonder about future PDA-like expansion of the iPod’s abilities. As of this date, the iPod is still a Mac-only product, though workaround programs for PCs are circulating and largely functional.
July 17, 2002 Apple makes four major announcements. First, PC versions of the iPods are unveiled, including MusicMatch software instead of iTunes. Second, a 20GB iPod is introduced. Third, 10GB and 20GB models now sport a new touch-sensitive Scroll Wheel instead of an actual moving wheel, which was easier to damage. And finally, iPod prices are lowered: 5GB drops to $299, 10GB drops to $399, and the 20GB model sits at $499. However, all iPods at this point still require users to have computers with FireWire connectivity ports, which are faster than competing USB ports but far less common on PCs.

October, 2002 By this point, retailers Best Buy, Dell, and Target have all started to sell iPods. Sensing the appeal of high-capacity music players, Creative releases the Nomad Zen Jukebox as a cheaper but larger competitor to the iPod.
December, 2002 Apple unveils its first and only limited edition iPods, with either Madonna’s, Tony Hawk’s, or Beck’s signature engraved on the back for an additional $49. (Another iPod featured the engraved logo of rock band No Doubt.) At a total price of $548, these limited edition iPods were the most expensive ever sold by Apple.
2003
March, 2003 Microsoft announces Media2Go portable video and audio players, originally targeted for a holiday 2003 release. The players will eventually be renamed Windows Portable Media Centers, deemed Microsoft’s “iPod killer,” and delayed until late 2004. April, 2003 Dell, which has been offering aggressive discounts on the iPod, temporarily stops selling the device after failing to renew its reseller agreement with Apple, but then renews.
May 1-4, 2003 Retailers begin to sell third-generation iPods, and one week after launching the Mac iTunes Music Store, Apple has sold 1,000,000 songs.
June 19, 2003 Taking advantage of the iPods’ proprietary (and FireWire/USB agnostic) Dock Connector port, Apple releases Dock Connector-to-USB 2.0 cables and drivers for third-generation iPods, expanding the range of PCs that can connect to the devices.
June 23, 2003 Apple sells the one millionth iPod, more than a year and a half after the release of the device.
September 8, 2003 Apple refreshes the middle and top of the third-generation iPod line with higher storage capacities at familiar pricing. A 20GB / 5,000 song ($399) model replaces the 15GB version, and a 40GB / 10,000 song ($499) model replaces the 30GB version introduced in April. Apple also announces that it has sold 10,000,000 songs through the iTunes Music Store since launch.
October 16, 2003 Apple releases both iTunes and the iTunes Music Store for U.S.-based PC users, phasing out support for MusicMatch PC software in the process. Belkin and Apple jointly announce voice recording and digital photo storage peripherals for the iPod, further and more tangibly expanding the unit’s capabilities past music playback. Apple also announces total sales of 13,000,000 songs via iTunes since launch.

October 27, 2003 Running a month behind its expected launch date, Dell announces the Digital Jukebox (DJ) as a cheaper competitor to the iPod, and partners with MusicMatch to offer a music downloading service. (By December, Dell will announce that it has permanently stopped reselling iPods to focus on the DJ.)
November, 2003 Complaints about iPod battery problems reach a fever pitch as the ‘iPod’s Dirty Little Secret’ video spreads across the Internet. Apple subsequently publicizes a cheaper battery replacement alternative for existing users.
2004
January 6, 2004 Apple debuts the iPod mini, a diminutive 4GB version of the iPod available in five colors at $249. Despite an impressive simplifying redesign of the iPod’s control scheme and casing, critical opinion of the device is initially mixed because of price and capacity concerns. Apple simultaneously replaces the $299 10GB entry-level iPod with a 15GB model, and retailers almost immediately discount the discontinued 10GB model to $249, further clouding the value equation.
January 6, 2004 Apple announces the sale of the two millionth iPod, less than six months after hitting the one million mark.
January 8, 2004 In an entirely unexpected move, personal computer heavyweight Hewlett-Packard announces at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show that it will license the iPod from Apple rather than develop a competing product. HP CEO Carly Fiorina promises to release and sell a “HP blue"-colored iPod by Summer, and agrees to market iTunes to its PC customers almost immediately.
February 17-20, 2004 Apple ships its first iPod minis starting on Tuesday, and long lines form at stores for its official Friday on-sale date. Sell-outs and near-sell-outs are reported nationwide, and critical opinion quickly turns in the device’s favor.
March 25, 2004 Apple pushes back the international release of the iPod mini from April to July, citing “much stronger than expected demand” from U.S. customers. Analysts report shortages of the miniature hard drives required by Apple.
May 5, 2004 Apple announces the sale of the three millionth iPod, only four months after hitting the two million mark. Analysts widely acknowledge the iPod as the digital audio market’s dominant hardware format, and begin to de-emphasize references to cheaper competitors.
June 15, 2004 Apple releases the iTunes Music Store in three European markets: France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. One week later, 800,000 songs have been sold to European customers, 450,000 in the UK alone.
July 11-12, 2004 The iTunes Music Store sells its 100,000,000th downloaded song at approximately 1:25AM Eastern Standard Time, July 12 (or 10:25PM Pacific Standard Time, July 11), the first legal music download service to hit that milestone. Thanks to an Apple contest offering a 17” PowerBook laptop computer, 40GB iPod and iTunes gift certificate for 10,000 songs (total estimated value: $13,200) to the person who purchased the 100,000,000th song, approximately 40,000 songs (total estimated value: $39,600) were sold in just the ten minutes before the milestone was reached.
July 17, 2004 Leaked by Newsweek magazine two days before Apple’s expected official announcement, the first photograph of the fourth-generation iPod appears on the Internet, depicting a hybrid of the third-generation iPod’s white casing with the Click Wheel controls from the iPod mini.
July 19-20, 2004 Offically announced by Apple on July 19, the fourth-generation iPod is physically thinner than the third-generation iPod but remains larger than the iPod mini, boasts improved battery life (12 hours), iPod mini-style Click Wheel controls, and small software tweaks such as a main menu randomized (shuffle) playback feature. Called lower-cost iPods, prices for the new low-end (20GB, $299) and mid-range (40GB, $399) units look like $100 drops from prior models until consumers discover that $100 worth of pack-ins (Docks, remote controls, and cases) have been stripped from their packages. The fourth-generation iPods also lack some widely rumored features, including a 60GB version and a color screen to display digital photographs. Buzz remains significant and first units begin to appear by the 20th.
July 21, 2004 Apple adds three top European independent labels to the iTMS catalog, placating the few remaining critics of iTunes.
July 24, 2004 Apple releases the iPod mini worldwide, behind schedule but still early enough to excite people around the world. Sell-outs are reported in several countries, including Japan.
July 26, 2004 Motorola announces that its next generation of cellular phones will be iTunes-compatible. In response to Apple’s earlier public rebuffing, RealNetworks releases a music technology called Harmony, enabling songs sold by Real through its own music store to be played back on iPods (and other devices) without Apple’s permission.
August 5, 2004 Apple announces total sales of 3.7 million iPods.
August 10, 2004 The iTunes Music Store library hits 1,000,000 songs.
August 25, 2004 Apple quietly begins to search for wireless and video experts to join its iPod division.
August 27, 2004 Hewlett-Packard announces the “Apple iPod from HP�? (or “iPod+hp�?), a repackaged version of the 4G iPod with new manuals and HP-supplied technical support. Promising availability by September 15, HP begins to ship units almost immediately, and announces an iPod-compatible printer and “printable tattoos�? to cover iPods.
August 31, 2004 Apple announces that it has 58% market share of the U.S. digital music player business, and plans a pan-European iTMS for October.
September 1, 2004 iTMS hits 125 million downloaded songs. Apple releases the iMac G5, which is now being marketed as a computer “from the creators of iPod.�?
September 7 - October 4, 2004 Microsoft’s unofficial anti-iPod public relations offensive starts. Chairman Bill Gates says in an interview that the iPod would have been easy for Microsoft to make. Next, while Internet-based viruses plague Windows PCs, Microsoft announces that the next Windows version will prevent iPods from unleashing viruses on PCs, though no such iPod attack has been reported. Finally, CEO Steve Ballmer publicly calls iPod users music thieves, claiming that Microsoft offers better copy protection. He later apologizes.
October 12-14, 2004 Analysts report that iPod sales are 82% of all digital music players and 92% of all hard-drive based players; nearest hard drive competitor Creative has 3.7%. Over 2,000,000 iPods were shipped in the prior 3 months alone, and iTMS downloads hit 150,000,000, a rate of 4 million downloads per week.
October 26, 2004 Apple debuts the iPod photo, a new version of the fourth-generation iPod that’s capable of displaying digital photographs and album art on its built-in color screen. Sold in 40GB ($499) and 60GB ($599) capacities, the iPod photo is physically identical to the fourth-generation iPod, only slightly thicker, and includes most of the pack-ins (Dock and case) that disappeared from iPod boxes in July. It also includes a “photo Dock” and AV cable for displaying digital photos on a television, as well as an evolved, colorized interface for using the iPod’s music playback features.
On the same day, and following considerable Apple co-promotion of a U2 song called Vertigo, Apple introduces the U2 iPod Special Edition ($349), a 20GB fourth-generation iPod with a shiny black front casing, red Click Wheel, and U2-engraved rear metal casing. The U2 iPod includes a $50 coupon towards the purchase of a $149 Apple-innovated “digital box set” called The Complete U2, but not a copy of U2’s latest album as was widely rumored before the product’s launch. Apple notes sales of nearly 6 million iPods to date.
How Have iPods Changed?
Obvious differences in size, thickness, and materials aside, the iPod has gone through a number of changes since its debut in 2001. While the first-generation (1G) and second-generation (2G) iPods featured a FireWire data port up top next to the headphone port and hold switch, this data port was removed from the top of third-generation (3G) iPods, fourth-generation (4G) iPods, iPod minis and iPod photos in favor of a bottom-mounted Dock Connector port. Placement of the four Menu/Play/Forward/Reverse buttons also changed; the original collection of four curved buttons surrounded the 1G and 2G iPods’ Scroll Wheels, but were transformed into circular buttons above the Scroll Wheel for the 3G iPod, and then integrated into the Click Wheel of the iPod mini, 4G iPod, and iPod photo, beginning with the iPod mini.
Finally, the wheel mechanism itself has changed: while the 1G iPod used a wheel that physically moved, each subsequent iPod has used a touch-sensitive circle that emulates the movement of a wheel - a subtle, yet unquestionably superior design.

iPod Boxes and Pack-ins Though the prices and capacities of iPods are their most often touted differences, each generation of iPods has featured different pack-ins that can add extra value for the dollar. On the hardware side, Apple’s decision to include remote controls, carrying cases, and eventually Docks with premium-priced iPods initially offset those higher prices, though changes to the iPod line-up in mid-2004 muddied this equation somewhat. On the software side, the replacement of PC-ready MusicMatch with the Windows version of iTunes makes newer iPods even easier to enjoy.
(left to right, boxes for the 1G iPod, 2G iPod, 3G iPod, and iPod Mini)
Original (1G) iPod Included headphones, FireWire cable, iTunes software, AC adapter.
Second-Generation (2G) iPod
5GB Mac Version Same as above. PC Version included 4-pin to 6-pin FireWire adapter, MusicMatch software instead of iTunes. 10GB/20GB Versions Same as above plus iPod Remote control and iPod Carrying Case. PC versions included 4-pin to 6-pin FireWire adapter, MusicMatch software instead of iTunes.
Third-Generation (3G) iPod
10GB ($299) Version Slightly new headphones, AC adapter, Dock Connector to FireWire cable, 4-pin to 6-pin FireWire adapter, iTunes software for Mac and MusicMatch software for PC*. Initial 15GB ($399)/30GB ($499) Versions Same as above plus Dock, new Remote control, and new Carrying Case. * Refreshed 15GB / 20GB / 40GB iPods include iTunes for both Mac and PC users, refreshed 15GB ($299, M9460LL/A) iPod does not include Dock, Remote control or Carrying Case.
iPod mini Headphones, plastic Belt Clip, AC adapter, Dock Connector to FireWire cable, Dock Connector to USB cable, iTunes software for Mac and PC users.
Fourth-Generation (4G) iPod Headphones, AC adapter, Dock Connector to FireWire cable, Dock Connector to USB cable, iTunes software for Mac and PC users. 40GB iPod includes a Dock, but neither iPod includes a Remote or Carrying Case, or the older FireWire adapter.
iPod photo Headphones, AC adapter, Dock Connector to FireWire cable, Dock Connector to USB cable, iPod photo Dock, AV cable, Carrying Case, iTunes software for Mac and PC users, Apple stickers.
iPod U2 Special Edition Headphones, AC adapter, Dock Connector to FireWire cable, Dock Connector to USB cable, iTunes software for Mac and PC users, $50 Coupon for The Complete U2 digital box set.
Historical Growth of iPod and iTunes Sales
iPod Sales iPod sales were good but not fantastic until around the May 2003 release of the third-generation iPod, which marked a turning point in the sales history of the device. Prior to that release, Apple’s sales were directed initially towards a relatively small audience of Macintosh users, and even when a PC version of the iPod was released, its FireWire-only design limited its appeal to mainstream PC users.
It took over a year and a half for Apple to hit the one million mark for iPods sold, but then the third-generation iPod was unveiled in Tokyo. Only six months later, the company had sold its second million iPods. Four months later, aided by the release of the iPod mini, they’d sold another million units of iPod hardware. By late October, aided by the release of the fourth-generation iPod, Apple was up to almost 6 million total units, and an additional 2-4 million units were predicted to be sold by the end of 2004.
Importantly, Apple’s sales milestones were achieved despite the continued introduction of cheaper alternatives by Creative, Dell, and iRiver, amongst others. None of these companies’ products appears to have significantly impacted the iPod’s sales growth or undermined its perception as king of the digital music hill.
iTunes Music Store Sales Though the history of the iTunes Music Store dates back only a year, there have been two important positive changes in its sales trends. The first was in October of 2003, starting with the release of the PC version of the Music Store. In December 2003, following a flurry of holiday season iPod purchases and media mentions, the second upward tilt began, dramatically accelerating the pace of iTunes Music sales. Apple hit the 100 million song mark in July, 2004, ahead of some expectations (but later than initial Apple predictions), and 150 million by October, 2004, a dramatically increased pace.
Which Countries Have the iPod, iPod mini, and iTunes Music Store?
iPod Available worldwide from Apple, Apple authorized retailers, and unauthorized retailers. iPod mini Nearly worldwide. As of July, 2004, Apple released the product into almost every geographic region of the world. While several countries have not received the product officially, supplies may be available from importers.
iTunes Music Store The service was first available (2003) within the United States, then expanded in June 2004 to the United Kingdom, France and Germany, and then on October 26, 2004 added Austria, Belgium, Finland, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. On December 1, 2004, Canada was added to the list. Negotiations for Australia, New Zealand, Japan and other countries remain underway.
iPod Trivia
Q: What’s the most expensive official iPod Apple has ever sold to consumers? A: Prior to the release of the iPod photo, the answer was limited edition iPods laser-engraved with the buyer’s choice of four alternatives: the signatures of musicians Beck or Madonna, the logo of band No Doubt, or the signature of pro skateboarder Tony Hawk. Asking price: $49 over the retail price of each iPod, or $548 for the then top-priced 20 GB iPod. The new premium iPod is the 60GB iPod photo, sold for $599.
Q: Has the iPod ever sparked a legal controversy outside of the United States? A: Yes, at least three times. The iPod was briefly taken off the market in France in September 2002 when French authorities notified Apple that the device violated a law limiting the sound output of portable devices to 100 decibels. Apple quickly updated the iPod’s software to remedy the problem, and subsequently implemented a volume cap on all iPods shipped to Europe, much to the consternation of users in other countries. In December 2003, the iPod became a lightning rod for controversy after Canadian authorities imposed an additional governmental levy (charge) of CDN$25 per player to compensate artists whose copyrights were being infringed. The $25 charge was substantially lower than earlier proposals of $21 per GB, which would have equaled a $315-$840 additional charge per 15-40 GB iPod - more in some cases than the cost of the iPod itself. Finally, Apple Computer has been sued in the United Kingdom by Apple Corps, holder of The Beatles rights, allegedly for violating an earlier trademark-related agreement whereby Apple Computer agreed not to enter the music business.
Q: What’s the most unusual iPod ever sold on eBay? A: A German seller auctioned an iPod that had been 24-karat gold-plated after purchase. Additionally, eBay sellers have auctioned off “pink” iPod minis that Apple accidentally delivered in a shade closer to magenta.
Q: Is it true that Oprah spent almost $140,000 on iPods and gave them away? A: In Spring 2003, Oprah named the iPod one of “Oprah’s Favorite Things” as part of her series of product giveaway shows, and gave 15GB ($399) iPods to each member of her 350-person studio audience. If you’re worried that billionaire Oprah had to drop nearly $140,000 of her own cash for the iPods, don’t be: Apple donated them, and Oprah didn’t even know how to use one when it was featured on the show. (When you’re a billionaire, you can afford to hire someone else to program your playlists.)
Q: What are the biggest iPod-related giveaways to date? A: The biggest iPod and iTunes giveaways to date have been offered by Pepsi, which offered a two-month “100 million free songs” giveaway (where only 5 million songs were actually given away), and an Australia-only “Win an iPod every hour” campaign with 1,018 15GB iPods available to be won.
Q: What musicians have been associated with the iPod? A: Too many to count. After releasing the 10GB iPod, Apple briefly introduced a series of iPod boxes featuring the images of famous musicians: Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis were featured on 10GB iPod boxes, while Bob Marley and Billie Holiday appeared on 5GB iPod boxes. The company has also included the previously mentioned musicians Beck, Madonna and No Doubt in a limited edition engraved iPod campaign, and has included performers such as Alicia Keys in product and service unveilings. Most notably, U2 released a special edition black version of the iPod in partnership with Apple in November, 2004 (announced in late October, 2004). The company plans partnerships with other musicians in the near future.

Q: Do the British really love the iPod more than Americans? A: It’s possible. Two early 2004 news stories suggested that British judges, law enforcement officials, and criminals are taking more than a passive interest in Apple’s music players. In February, the Beatles versus Apple case (Apple Corps versus Apple Computer) came before a High Court judge in London, who wondered aloud whether he would need to be disqualified from the bench because he was an iPod owner. In March, England’s second largest police force, the West Midlands Police, warned iPod users to hide their iPods and stop wearing Apple’s packed-in white headphones because of muggings by iPod-hungry street thieves. In both cases, representatives of Apple Computer publicly expressed delight at the iPod’s growing popularity.
Q: Can the iPod run anything other than Apple’s own operating system? A: Yes, but not that well. Apple has intentionally prevented outside developers from experimenting with or changing the device’s operating system. In an effort to expand the iPod’s support for music formats other than MP3, AAC, WAV and unprotected WMA, several hackers have used reverse engineering to make the iPod run a stripped down version of Linux, which features limited functionality and as yet no ability to properly play back audio in other formats. Their most visible achievement has been getting the iPod’s title screen to display the face of Tux the Linux penguin.
Q: How much media exposure has the iPod received since launch? A: An incredible amount. The iPod has been prominently featured in music videos, television shows, and massive product giveaways, say nothing of thousands of newspaper and magazine articles, and a number of books. Apple’s partnership with the rock band U2 increased both the band’s and the iPod’s profile almost exponentially around the world.
Q: How have PC hardware and software competitors responded to Apple’s success with the iPod? A: The responses have been surprisingly mixed, and not entirely negative. Though Creative Labs, Dell, and iRiver have continued to develop and sell competing devices, industry heavyweight Hewlett-Packard in January 2004 halted development of an iPod alternative and opted to license and resell Apple’s product itself. In March 2004, the CEO of RealNetworks (developer of RealAudio and RealVideo standards) made an awkward public plea that Apple introduce iPod support for Real’s standards and competing Music Store, combined with a threat to join Microsoft if Apple didn’t act. Apple declined. Real responded in late July by releasing Harmony, software technology to permit songs sold by Real to play on the iPod. Apple threatened to block Harmony songs from playing on iPods, and accomplished the feat in mid-November, 2004.
Q: What’s Apple’s iPod track record with automobile manufacturers? A: To date, Apple has publicly partnered with two European car manufacturers to cross-promote iPods and vehicles. In July of 2003, Volkswagen announced a “Pods Unite” campaign for the 2003 New Beetle, whereby New Beetle purchasers received a custom-engraved (VW logo) iPod and a “VW Connectivity Kit” with free music, an Audible audio book, a coupon, a window sticker, a “VW Music-zine” and what later became known as Belkin’s TuneDok cupholder iPod mount. In June of 2004, BMW announced the “iPod Your BMW” campaign, whereby owners of select BMW vehicles can add a $149 iPod control and power charging system called the BMW iPod Adapter to their cars. Apple promises further vehicle-related announcements in the near future.

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WOW!! great story!!
Posted by Yarin on June 26, 2004 at 11:53 AM (PDT) Comment 1
not a whole lot to say other than cool and interesting.
Posted by stefan on June 26, 2004 at 11:58 AM (PDT) Comment 2
Nice!
Posted by josh on June 26, 2004 at 12:16 PM (PDT) Comment 3
WOW a great insight into the history of this fabulos gadget.
Posted by -i2i- on June 26, 2004 at 12:16 PM (PDT) Comment 4
Cool History Article of one of the best MP3 Portable to date.
Posted by Oliver on June 26, 2004 at 1:23 PM (PDT) Comment 5
Pretty good story but too baised, should of pointed some of the downfalls too.
Posted by michael on June 26, 2004 at 1:30 PM (PDT) Comment 6
Makes me love mine even more! Great story!
Posted by Eric on June 26, 2004 at 2:44 PM (PDT) Comment 7
Great article, very informative and much needed. Excellent job.
Audrey iPodlounge Mod
Posted by honeybee1236 on June 26, 2004 at 3:22 PM (PDT) Comment 8
really nice story
Posted by esra on June 26, 2004 at 3:49 PM (PDT) Comment 9
great article guys. keep up the good work!
Posted by Phillip on June 26, 2004 at 4:11 PM (PDT) Comment 10
Great article, just one error:
September 8, 2003 Apple refreshes the third-generation iPod line with higher storage capacities at familiar pricing. The 15GB / 3,700 song ($299) iPod becomes the company’s cheapest, with 20GB / 5,000 song ($399) and 40GB / 10,000 song ($499) versions replacing the smaller units introduced in April. Apple also announces that it has sold 10,000,000 songs through the iTunes Music Store since launch.
Apple didn’t update the 10GB model to 15GB until Steve made his keynote speech at the 2004 conference. Only the 15/30 were upgraded to 20/40 GB models respectively.
Posted by DarkJC on June 26, 2004 at 4:52 PM (PDT) Comment 11
they should make an ipod with a rumble pack-- u kno, like in the xbox controllers. it would be totally useless, waste battery, but come on people, IT WOULD RUMBLE WEN LOW BASS COMES ON! lol
Posted by laxman2211 on June 26, 2004 at 7:19 PM (PDT) Comment 12
LAXMAN!!! THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!!! LOL!!!!!! NIIIIICCCEEE!!! :cool:
Posted by Chris on June 26, 2004 at 8:01 PM (PDT) Comment 13
that was an AWESOME article. i was just wondering when the 1G and 2G ipods came out and how they changed through the generations. the number of ipods sold the past 3 years is amazing!
Posted by Vicky on June 26, 2004 at 10:05 PM (PDT) Comment 14
Nicely written article, with heaps of interesting facts.
That Pepsi competetion in Australia is pretty annoying though; I’ve sent in about 40 labels in the last three weeks, with 18 being sent at 2am in the morning. Nothing. Then a schoolmate wins an iPod on his twelvth label. Bastard.
Posted by Elithrar on June 26, 2004 at 10:34 PM (PDT) Comment 15
tru elithrar, but da best time i herd is like 7am sunday mornings - ur gonna hav 2 wate till next week tho
how many weeks left til it finishes?
Posted by Snowy on June 26, 2004 at 10:57 PM (PDT) Comment 16
DarkJC: You’re entirely correct, and we’ve fixed the error. Thanks for reminding us - ironically we were quite worked up back then because 10GB models started to sell for $249 (sometimes less), the same price as the announced-but-as-yet-unreleased 4GB mini. Amazing how even recent memories can fade. Thanks again, and thanks to everyone else for your comments.
Posted by Jeremy Horwitz on June 27, 2004 at 12:02 AM (PDT) Comment 17
Great info-article about the history of the iPod, although the Linux-on-iPod project has done more that should be respected here, such as the almost realtime playback of Ogg Vorbis files. Also, as Apple really started pushing its advertising campaign from the time of the 3G iPods, it’s surprising how many people don’t know about the 1G and 2G models… I’m a highschool iPod owher with a 2G I got in January 2003, and although now basically everyone at school knows about the iPod, they aren’t aware of the earlier ones...hence I sometimes get the comment of “That’s a fake, isn’t it?” and stuff… X_x
“The reward for conformity was that everyone liked you...except yourself.”
Posted by elynnia on June 27, 2004 at 3:52 AM (PDT) Comment 18
I think that the IPod has changed so much over the years. We have went from a down Apple company to a upbeat Apple company doing great. Steve Jobs did a miracle by making the third generation IPods compabatible with ITunes for Windows. I have had so much sucesss with this mixture. The syncing with IEEE 1394 is great. The second generation IPod was also a hit starting to lean toward PDA features. I am still waiting for an IPod with Wireless Internet (Wi-Fi). The PDA features are my second great miracle Steve Jobs brought to IPod. I consider the IPod to just get better and better in history!
Posted by Joese on June 27, 2004 at 4:49 AM (PDT) Comment 19
Pepsi comp. finishes on the 11th of July. I’m going to buy one pretty soon anyway (like, next week), but it would’ve been nice to win one.
Posted by Elithrar on June 27, 2004 at 5:38 AM (PDT) Comment 20
this is sick mate totally awsome
Posted by suck my wiing wang hoho on June 27, 2004 at 6:30 AM (PDT) Comment 21
"October, 2002 - Sensing the appeal of high-capacity music players, Creative releases the Nomad Zen Jukebox as a cheaper but larger competitor to the iPod.”
Not quite…
The first high-capacity drives weren’t from Apple.
1999-10-29 Compaq in Palo Alto releases the PJB, or Personal Juke Box. Some of the people involved in the Compaq project are later involved with PortalPlayer, which designs the iPod’s chipset. The PJB comes in 20 or 6 GB versions.
http://rockbox.haxx.se/playerhistory/pjb100.jpg http://research.compaq.com/SRC/pjb/
The PJB-100 is licensed to Korean company HanGo Electronics and sold in the US by Remote Solutions. http://www.pjbox.com/10-26.htm
Specifications: CPU/DSP: Motorola 56309 DSP Display: 128x64 b/w lcd Disk: 6.5 GByte, 2.5” Ram: 12 MByte Size: 150x80x26 mm, 280 gram Interface: USB 1.1
2000-01-05 Creative releases Nomad Jukebox. http://us.creative.com/corporate/pressroom/releases/welcome.asp?pid=6193 http://rockbox.haxx.se/playerhistory/nomad.jpg
Specifications: CPU/DSP: ? Display: 132x64 b/w lcd Disk: 6 GByte, 2.5” Ram: 8 MByte Size: 127x127x38 mm, 397 gram Interface: USB 1.1
2001-06-29 Archos releases Jukebox 6000 http://www.3dsoundsurge.com/press/pr1088.html
http://rockbox.haxx.se/playerhistory/archos6000.jpg
Specifications: CPU/DSP: ? Display: 132x64 b/w lcd Disk: 6 GByte, 2.5” Ram: 8 MByte Size: 127x127x38 mm, 397 gram Interface: USB 1.1
2001-11-12 Apple releases iPod - first player with 1.8” drives. http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2001/oct/23ipod.html http://rockbox.haxx.se/playerhistory/ipod.jpg Specifications: CPU/DSP: Texas Instruments TMS320DSC21, Micronas MAS 3587F Display: 237x234 colour lcd Disk: 10 GByte, 2.5” Ram: 16 MByte Size: 110x78x28 mm, 290 gram Interface: USB 1.1 (USB 2.0 & Firewire optional)
-------------------------------------------------- It’s interesting to note that the first HD player, the PJB way back in 1999, had a long thin form factor, essentially similar to today’s iPod Mini. It fitted nicely into pockets.
You could argue that Creative fumbled badly by releasing thte Nomad in a “CD Discman"-like form factor. Not so easy for pockets!
Posted by trailblazers on June 27, 2004 at 7:52 AM (PDT) Comment 22
trailblazers, most of your specs on the ipod are wrong… last i checked the first ipod wasn’t color, 10gb, 2.5”, 16mb ram, USB interface, any of that really. your size #s are all wrong on the others too.
the article never said ipod was the first to have high capacity… and wtf cares about hango and archos players? the compaq looks as much like ipod mini as a compaq PC looks like a powermac G5
Posted by captain accurate on June 27, 2004 at 12:40 PM (PDT) Comment 23
To the guy who posted the hard drive absed players two posts above me, the iPod does not have a “237x234 colour lcd”. It is monochrome in al variations as of yet.
Posted by Dragon on June 27, 2004 at 4:50 PM (PDT) Comment 24
Nobody ever said iPod was the first HD player--it was among the first. From the article’s 2nd paragraph:
“Unlike most (but not all) competing digital audio players available at the time, Apple relies on a hard disk for storage”
The success of the iPod (like iTunes in Europe) is in being best, not first. Including ease of use that has never been matched.
(And yes, those specs posted by trailblazer are wrong.)
Historical note… Compaq now sells computers with iTunes, and parent-company HP will be selling iPods
Posted by Nagromme on June 27, 2004 at 6:01 PM (PDT) Comment 25
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