iPod

Handheld MP3 music player. Launched by Apple Computer in October 2001, it was initially capable of storing 1,000 music tracks on its built-in hard disk drive; by 2004 a 40 gigabyte version was available capable of storing up to 10,000 tracks. The iPod was an instant success, and from 2004 it accounted for 90% of the hard-drive MP3 player market and 70% of the overall MP3 player market. Apple launched a number of variant models, including the Mini in 2004 and the Nano and Shuffle in 2005. Apple claim to have sold 50 million iPods up to mid-2006.

The iPod's distinctive design was developed by English designer Jonathan Ive, Apple's vice-president of industrial design (whose team was also responsible for designing the iMac, iBook, and PowerBook), who won the first UK Designer of the Year award in 2003.

In April 2003, Apple launched its iTunes Music Store in the USA. This was a music download service for Macintosh users, designed to drive sales of the iPod, with free software and most music tracks costing 99 cents; six months later, iTunes was extended to Windows users, and accessories were added to the iPod including a microphone and a reader for removable cards for storing (but not displaying) digital photographs.