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iPod (first gen)
Launched with the slogan "1,000 songs in your pocket", the iPod was the first MP3 player to break into the mainstream. Storage came in the form of a 5GB hard disk rather than the silent, robust flash memory used now. -
iPod (second gen)
Less than a year after the original came the second generation, updated with a new hold switch, a cover for the FireWire port and a touch sensitive wheel rather than the spinning disc used to scroll through menus on the previous model. -
iPod (third gen)
The third generation was a total redesign: thinner, lighter and with the proprietary dock connector rather than a FireWire port. It also ditched the physical buttons which used to surround the touchwheel in favour of a row of buttons under the screen -
iPod Mini (first gen)
Launched as a cheaper alternative to the classic iPod, the Mini had a one-piece aluminium case that was available in silver, gold, pink, blue and green. Storage was limited to 4GB, and featured for the first time the iconic 'click wheel'. -
iPod (fourth gen)
The fourth generation was the cleanest and most minimal design yet and came in a variety of special editions. A new scroll wheel allowed the click buttons to move into the scroll wheel itself, and and case was even slimmer than the third generation. -
iPod Shuffle (first gen)
Apple already had the classic iPod and the Mini, but the Shuffle was launched to bring MP3s to those on a smaller budget. It weighed just 22g and came with as little as 512MB of storage space that was automatically filled with random songs by iTunes. -
iPod Mini (second gen)
A slight update to the scroll wheel and a new 6GB version, but the main change was a welcome boost in battery life from around eight hours to 18. This was to be the last iPod Mini, with its similar replacement taking the name Nano. -
iPod Nano (first gen)
The Nano was almost an update to the Mini, but far smaller, and took a new name. Steve Jobs launched it by removing it from the comb pocket in his jeans at a keynote event, asking: "ever wondered what this pocket is for?". -
iPod (fifth gen)
Video arrived on the iPod in style with the fifth generation, as well as a smaller, slimmer case design and the choice of black or white fronts. It was designed to accommodate a larger screen for enhanced video playback. -
iPod Nano (second gen)
The first Nano had ditched the aluminium case design of the old Mini in favour of plastic, but the second generation resembled a shrunken Mini. It came in 2GB, 4GB or 8GB versions and weighed in at only 40g. -
iPod Shuffle (second gen)
The second generation Shuffle was the smallest iPod to date - a tiny aluminium device with a built-in clip so owners could clip it on to their clothes and wear it as a sort of nifty MP3-playing 21st century broach. -
iPod (sixtth gen)
A slight redesign saw the sixth generation slim slightly, and the device has been an extremely long-running product that remains on sale to this day. This is expected to be the last "classic" standalone iPod that Apple offer. -
iPod Nano (third gen)
For the third generation model the Nano went almost square, and added video capability with a 320 x 240 pixel screen, offering an aspect ratio far more suited to watching films or television programmes. It came in a wide variety of jazzy colours -
iPod Touch (first gen)
The touch is launched, essentially, as an iPhone without a phone. It has all of the same features: touchscreen, camera, the Safari browser, music and video playback, third-party app support, but internet connections are limited to Wi-Fi. -
iPod Nano (fourth gen)
The fourth nano reverted to its traditional rectangular shape and brought voice recording and a 'shake to shuffle' feature powered by a built-in accelerometer. Apple claimed the battery could withstand up to 24 hours of song playback and four of video. -
iPod Touch (second gen)
The second generation of the Touch boasted the chrome frame first modelled by the iPhone 3G, meaning to two looked near identical from the front. The Touch's back, however, was tapered chrome, compared to the iPhone's flat rear. -
iPod Shuffle (third gen)
The third Shuffle managed to shrink yet again. This time by ditching all controls from the player itself, and moving them to a headphone remote. It also included VoiceOver technology that could speak out song and artist names to the user. -
iPod Nano (fifith gen)
For the first time, the Nano came equipped with a digital camera and FM radio. There was also a built-in pedometer, Nike+iPod support, an FM radio with the ability to pause for up to 15 minutes and a speaker. -
iPod Touch (third gen)
The third generation of the iPod Touch had double the capacity of its predecessor, as well as being much faster due to its more powerful GPU. It was available in 32 and 64 GB capacities and up to 30 hours of music playback. -
iPod Nano (sixth gen)
The Nano once again went square with the sixth generation. In fact, it was little more than a screen and a case. The 1.55in screen offered touchscreen control, enabling Apple to ditch physical buttons. It also did away with the camera and video playback. -
iPod Shuffle (fourth gen)
The fourth generation Shuffle once again featured physical buttons, but was still smaller than the second generation that it bore a resemblance to. This version is still on sale at around £40, making it Apple's most affordable and smallest iPod. -
iPod Touch (fourth gen)
Featuring a front-facing camera for FaceTime as well as a rear-facing lens, the fourth incarnation of the iPod Touch also had the iPhone 4's Retina display without an IPS screen and support for recording 720p video clips. -
iPod Nano (seventh gen)
The Nano's ever-fluctuating form goes long-and-tall once again for the latest version. A home button, borrowed from the iPhone, appears for the first time and video playback comes bach. It also adds Bluetooth for wireless headphones. -
iPod Touch (fifth gen)
The most recent iPod Touch model comes in a variety of colours should you opt for the 32 or 64 GB versions, whilst the 16 GB model comes only in an onyx grey. For the first time, Touch users can record video of 1080p quality.
