iPod is a brand
of portable media player designed and marketed by Apple Computer. Devices
in the iPod family provide a simple user interface designed around a
central scroll wheel (with the exception of the iPod shuffle). The standard
iPod model stores media on a built-in hard drive, while the smaller
iPod shuffle and iPod nano use flash memory. Like most digital audio
players, an iPod can serve as an external data storage device when connected
to a computer.
Discontinued versions of the iPod include two generations
of the popular iPod mini and four generations of the full-sized iPod,
all of which had monochrome screens except for the fourth-generation
iPod with color screen (previously sold as iPod photo before it replaced
the monochrome iPod in the top line). As of April 2006, the lineup consists
of the fifth-generation iPod, which has video playback capabilities,
the iPod nano which has a color screen, and the iPod shuffle; all three
models were released in 2005. The iPod is currently the world's best-selling
digital audio player[citation needed]. The bundled software required
for uploading music, photos, and videos to the iPod is called iTunes.
A music jukebox application, iTunes stores a comprehensive library of
the user's music on their computer, and can play and rip music from
a CD. The most recent incarnations of iPod and iTunes have video playing
and organization features.
Apple's widespread marketing campaigns have led to the
iPod's reputation as an easy-to-use, stylish device and dominance among
the MP3 market (to the extent that some people erroneously refer to
all MP3 players as "iPods"); this has led to a large market
dedicated specifically to iPod accessories. Apple's proprietary actions
regarding iPods and iTunes, however, have led to its criticism by some
and legal battles outside of the United States.