iPod (4G) (2004)
Apple introduced the fourth-generation iPod on July 19, 2004 and announced immediate availability: 20 GB for $299 and 40 GB for $399 in the US. Its Click Wheel combined touch-sensitive scrolling with five physical buttons. Unlike the previous model’s four separate touch buttons, the controls were integrated into the wheel.
© Pipp345 · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗ Resized, no crop or retouching.
Specs
| Storage | 20 / 40 GB |
| Controls | Click Wheel · 5 physical buttons |
| Connectivity | FireWire / USB · 30-pin |
| Power | Up to 12 h, per Apple |
| Price | 299 / 399 USD · US launch |
| Availability | 2004-07-19 · immediate availability announced |
Introduction and availability
Apple introduced the fourth-generation iPod on July 19, 2004 and announced immediate availability: 20 GB for $299 and 40 GB for $399 in the US. Its Click Wheel combined touch-sensitive scrolling with five physical buttons. Unlike the previous model’s four separate touch buttons, the controls were integrated into the wheel.
Capacity, price and use
Apple advertised up to 12 hours of battery life, depending on use and settings. Shuffle Songs on the main menu started random playback, while Auto-Sync updated the library when connected to a computer. This record covers the July 2004 iPod, not an iPod photo edition or the 2007 iPod classic. The photo shows a monochrome-screen example on a dock without identifying its capacity.
Compatibility, evolution and photograph
Both capacities included earbuds, a 1.2-meter 30-pin-to-FireWire cable, a 1.2-meter 30-pin-to-USB cable and an iTunes 4.6 CD for Mac and Windows. Only 40 GB included the dock, also sold separately for $39. Apple documented charging through FireWire or USB cables. The announcement required Mac OS X 10.1.5 or later and FireWire on Mac, or Windows 2000/XP with FireWire or USB.