iPod

iPod

The iPod is a portable media player designed and marketed by Apple and launched on October 23, 2001.

As of June 2010, the product line-up includes the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the video-capable iPod Nano, and the compact iPod Shuffle.

The iPhone can function as an iPod but is generally treated as a separate product._

Former iPod models include the iPod Mini and the spin-off iPod Photo (since reintegrated into the main iPod Classic line).

iPod Classic models store media on an internal hard drive, while all other models use flash memory to enable their smaller size (the discontinued Mini used a Microdrive miniature hard drive).

As with many other digital music players, iPods can also serve as external data storage devices. Storage capacity varies by model, ranging from 2 GB for the iPod Shuffle to 160 GB for the iPod Classic._

Apple’s iTunes software can be used to transfer music to the devices from computers using certain versions of Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows operating systems.

For users who choose not to use Apple’s software or whose computers cannot run iTunes software, several open source alternatives to iTunes are also available._

iTunes and its alternatives may also transfer photos, videos, games, contact information, e-mail settings, Web bookmarks, and calendars to iPod models supporting those features.________________________________________