iPod mini (2004)
The iPod cut down to half the size: anodized aluminum body in five colors and the debut of the Click Wheel.
© kaori · CC BY 2.0 ↗ Resized, no crop or retouching.
Specs
| Storage | 4 GB, about 1,000 songs per Apple · Apple (2004-01-06) |
| Display | 1.67-inch monochrome LCD · Wikipedia |
| Key feature | $249 and over 100,000 pre-orders before reaching stores, per Apple · Apple (2004-02-17) |
Launch
Apple introduced iPod mini on January 6, 2004 at Macworld Expo: 4 GB, anodized aluminum in five colors, 3.6 ounces and $249. On February 17 it announced over 100,000 pre-orders and US availability on February 20. April was the initial international forecast, not the final date: on March 25 Apple postponed the launch to July because of US demand, and on July 7 set international availability for July 24. · Apple (2004-01-06) · Apple (2004-02-17) · Apple (2004-03-25) · Apple (2004-07-07)
Marketing
Apple framed it as the assault on the flash segment: Philip Schiller argued in February 2004 that for about $50 more than a 256 MB flash player it offered sixteen times the music, per the press release. Its lasting contribution was the Click Wheel, developed by Synaptics, which folded the buttons under the touch wheel and was later inherited by several later iPod models, per Wikipedia. On February 23, 2005 came the second generation: 4 GB at $199 and 6 GB at $249, with up to 18 hours of battery life and USB charging, per Apple. · Apple (2004-02-17) · Apple (2005-02-23)
Flaws and fixes
Apple rated battery life at up to 8 hours in 2004 and up to 18 hours in 2005. The first generation's 8-hour battery was its usual criticism, recorded by Wikipedia; the second generation raised it to 18 hours, though it cut bundled accessories to hold the price. On September 7, 2005, Apple discontinued the iPod mini and replaced it with the iPod nano, per the same source; the second generation was the last monochrome-screen iPod Apple sold. · Wikipedia · Apple (2004-01-06) · Apple (2005-02-23)