I’d imagine it’s pretty likely that you have heard plenty about the Apple iPod in the media. If you’ve got kids then they probably wanted one for Christmas and if you work in marketing or the music business then you have probably already had an iPod for years. Since its release in 2001 the Apple iPod has become synonymous with the term Mp3 player. Apple pretty much created the market for Mp3 players and they also totally dominate it.

Why has the iPod been such a huge success?

Apple cleverly spotted the rise of digital music and the lack of a suitable piece of hardware. For this reason they developed a hard drive based MP3 player and released this in late 2001. As with their recent computer models Apple did something very clever in the way they marketed and designed their product. Right from the start the iPod was given a sleek and sexy look and was marketed at young, style continuos, music enthusiasts. Apple created a fantastic brand with the all white look, with the white earphones being featured prominently in adverts. The white iPod earphones have actually become so recognisable that they have actually been blamed for increased numbers of street robberies.

Even the original iPod could store a fairly significant amount of music as it used a 5GB hard drive. It was a success from the start, but the fact that it was only Mac compatible held back sales slightly, although Apple did actually see an increase in sales of Apple Macs due to people wanting to be able to use the iPods.

The real explosion for the iPod when they released the 3rd generation iPod in 2003 that came bundled with Apple’s own iTunes software that was compatible on both Macs and Windows PCs. This has opened up a new market as they could now tap into the Windows users. Apple now has a huge 90% market share of the hard drive based Mp3 player market, and 70% share of the MP3 player market as a whole. Very impressive I’m sure you will agree.

Apple has managed to keep their grip on the mp3 player market by releasing several different versions of the iPod. The main iPod is now in its 5th generation and although the design is largely similar to the original, it has been made more compact and available with much large storage capacities. The latest models can display colour photos and movies.

iPod mini- Apple’s first iPod spin off was the iPod mini. This mp3 player was fairly similar to the original although smaller in size. It was the first iPod to be available in different colours and was designed to target a slightly different market.

iPod nano – Apple decided to discontinue the mini in 2005, to replace it with the ultra small iPod nano. These are 62% smaller than the mini players and feature coloured screens. Apple has come under some criticism though for the screens on the nano as many users have complained that they damage too easily.

iPod shuffle – This is another ultra small iPod and was the first flash drive based iPod. They only have a limited capacity of 512MB or 1GB and do not have a display screen. Users can either listen to the songs on the player in a random order or set a playlist in iTunes.

The dominance of the iPod in the mp3 player market can be seen in other industries. Cars are now being designed with docking ports to make integrating iPods to the in car system easier. Clothes manufacturers are making clothes with special pockets to hold iPods. All manner of other iPod accessories are being created by various electronics companies.

You’d be forgiven for thinking the iPod was the only mp3 player available, well it isn’t. There are many other players out there, that some will tell you are actually a lot better than the iPods, just maybe not as fashionable.

Gillian Todd is an author at http://www.a1-mp3-players.com

Isn’t technology cool and what is cooler than the tiny little Apple iPod Nano? Not much say the techy elite! Do you ever wonder how they accomplish this technological magic? Many do, of course we are told if we open it up to take a look, we void the warranty completely. Well that is just what a couple of techno gurus did at MIT and it is amazing the components inside and how small they really are. I mean this is far out; look for your self:

http://www.technologyreview.com/InfoTech/wtr_16058,294,p1.html

Mr. Christopher Harting has displayed the components all laid out for you like a schematic with this digital picture. It shows the little one point five inch LCD display, a masterpiece and marvel in technology itself. Also you can see the little battery, can you believe that little thing can run the iPod Nano for six solid hours; impressive indeed. Of course also enclosed is the massive memory chip, which can store more songs than you care to record. Of course in looking at all this you can certainly see why you would not want to accidentally drop this little high-priced in the toilet.

Who says the United States cannot design the best and most innovative products and produce the best technology in the World? One look at the guts of the iPod Nano and you can see what American ingenuity is all about. When there is a will, there is a way and let’s face it the iPod Nano is here to stay!

Lance Winslow

The greatest advantage and disadvantage of an iPod is its small shape. For such a small gadget, the iPod holds can hold thousands of mp3 files. With its portability, the increase of mishaps is sure to happen. From common scratches to hard drive problems, an iPod’s biggest selling point can also be its greatest drawback.

Detailed below are the most common repair issues:

1. Getting Dropped: It’s as easy as giving it to someone to look at or even slipping out of your pocket. Dropping an iPod can happen anytime. This can result in minor aesthetic issues that can be ignored or to greater hard drive issues that have to be sent to a specialist for repair.

2. Getting Scratched: Scratching an iPod is as easy as scratching a cell phone. With its increased daily use, the iPod is not just used on occasion, but is a regular accessory.

3. Falling in Water: How many times have you dropped your cell in phone in water? Nowadays, dropping an iPod in water can happen just as easy.

4. Exposure to Extreme Weather Conditions: Depending on where you live, weather conditions can affect your iPod. From the large amount of rain in Seattle to the snowy weather in the NorthEast, or even the blazing sun in the South, any harsh weather condition can affect your iPod and can cause needed repairs.

5. Dirt: With regular use, dirt can accumulate in the iPod. Cleaning is needed in many cases.

6. Bending: Even though there is an increase in clothing designers catering to the iPod user by designing storage units in many jackets, shirts and pants, bending and cracking can happen. Many people keep their iPods in their back pockets and mishaps can happen when sitting.

7. Broken Screens: One of the leading repairs is LCD repair. Breaking or cracking of the screen can happen in so many ways, accidentally or even with just normal use.

8. Hard Drives: The most costly repair is the hard drive. For whatever reason, these gadgets can stop working like normal. A hard drive upgrade or replacement may be needed.

9. Headphone Sockets: With continual use, the headphone socket may become loose or even broken. Repair is needed since it is the source for listening.

10. Battery: With time, the battery life may become too short or even have battery malfunctions. A battery upgrade may be needed.

These are just some of the problems you may face with an iPod. With care and forward thinking, many of these can be limited. To lessen iPod repair issues, be sure to use a protective case and use care and caution.

Ruben Soliman is a frequent iPod user. For a quality company for iPod repairs, visit http://www.ipodmods.com to get an
iPod repair estimate or purchase modifications and parts. Check out their new lifetime battery replacement service.