Like it or not, the Apple iPod has etched itself into the history of humankind. It wasn't even close to being the first MP3 player when it was launched in late 2001, but the iPod appeared at the right time, just as the Napster-fueled MP3 revolution was in full swing. But timing wasn't the only thing that catapulted the iPod to the top of the hill, with its current near-80 percent share of the MP3 player marketplace.

Users were desperate for a portable player that was easy to use, and the iPod today is still known as the most intuitive model. Competitors such as Creative and iRiver have consistently outpaced the iPod in features, but the player's consumer-friendly design, including the Click Wheel, and its seamless relationship with iTunes, has attracted the masses. And we can't ignore the iPod's sleek and minimal look, as well as Apple's push to offer the smallest and thinnest players available.

Still, the iPod has not been without criticism. Many thought the first 5GB iPod was overpriced at $400. The third-generation design with touch-sensitive buttons took the iPod a step backward, and outside of the second-generation iPod Mini and today's 60GB iPod, battery life has been mediocre. The iPod Shuffle was widely panned, but it laid the foundation for the successful (yet scratch-prone) iPod Nano. Today's iPods are thinner than ever, and they pack in more features than you'd think, including video playback. Tomorrow's iPod will be more video-friendly, as well as incorporate communications features. As we inch closer to the iPod's fifth birthday--amid Apple's 30th anniversary--we take a look back at each iPod model released with excerpts from our reviews and commentary. Also, check out the entire Apple timeline.

iPod model	Capacity/price (at launch)	Dimensions	What we said
iPod (first generation) Announced: October 23, 2001	5GB/$399 10GB/$499	4 by 2.4 by 0.8 inches; 6.5 ounces	Then: Our favorite part of the design by far is the scrollwheel used to navigate the menus. When holding the device in one hand, it's possible to move through every song, album, or playlist in mere seconds. Unlike other jog dials or button navigation systems, the scrollwheel accelerates as you turn it, allowing for the kind of maneuvering that's necessary to rapidly peruse 5GB worth of MP3s. Now: I had seen hard drive-based MP3 players from Creative (6GB) and Hango Remote Solutions (10GB), but the 5GB iPod was so much smaller than either of those, and the scrollwheel was a revelation for menu navigation. It was obvious to me from the start that this was going to force the competition back on its heels, which is pretty much where they still are.--Eliot Van Buskirk
iPod (second generation) Announced: July 17, 2002	10GB/$399 20GB/$499	4.0 by 2.4 by 0.72 inches; 6.5 ounces	Then: The new, static scrollwheel works just as well as the original iPod's rotating scrollwheel, which we suspect wasn't as durable as it could have been. But the static scrollwheel still allows for the same effortless menu navigation, enabling you to quickly find a track by song name, album, artist, genre, playlist, or composer. Finally, Apple adds a well-advised cover to the FireWire port to help keep out debris (the original iPod lacked a port cover)....One other notable feature is the new PIM software, which integrates calendar and contacts with Microsoft Outlook, Entourage, Palm Desktop, and the Mac OS X Address Book. Now: I kind of liked the mechanical scrollwheel of the first generation. Still the Synaptics-aided "touch wheel" was a technological marvel, and 20GB of storage for only $499--what a deal! Also, Windows users started to buy these things en masse and pair them with Musicmatch, helping Apple gain a solid hold on the MP3 player market.--James Kim
iPod (third generation) Announced: April 8, 2003	10GB 15GB 20GB 30GB 40GB	4.1 by 2.4 by 0.62 inches; 5.6 ounces	Review: Between the display and the scrollwheel are four buttons: rewind, menu (which also moves you up one level during navigation), play/pause/power, and fast-forward, all of which are reachable with your thumb when you're holding the device. You can turn off their orange backlighting (along with the display backlighting) to save power or set it to turn on when you touch a button. All six front-panel controls are incredibly touch-sensitive; they almost seem to respond to heat rather than pressure. Luckily, the hold switch prevents accidental activation. Now: The rounded corners made for a much sexier look and feel than the bricklike shape of the 2G. With the touch-sensitive buttons, I had to make sure I didn't accidentally press them twice. The smaller scrollwheel also made navigating my song/artist lists a little more tedious! I noticed about an hour of sacrificed battery life in the third-generation iPod, but it was never a huge issue.--Justin Yu
iPod Mini (first generation) Announced: January 6, 2004	4GB/$250	3.6 by 2.0 by 0.5 inches	Then: Although it scarcely seems possible, we think the Apple iPod Mini's design surpasses even that of its photogenic older sibling. Its stylish, anodized-aluminum shell is so tough that we felt as if we could stand on the device without consequence. Apple constructs the body by hollowing out Mini-shaped aluminum tubes so that there are no seams in the construction, then applies the color during the anodization process so that it can't scratch off. Now: Living in San Francisco, I often take the bus or train, or I walk around the city, and I'm an avid runner, so I need tunes to keep me entertained on the go. The first-generation iPod Mini was the perfect solution. Its compact size made it easy to slip into my bag or coat pocket, and it never weighed me down. The simplicity of the player, the good sound quality, the responsive Click Wheel--it all added up to my ideal MP3 player. Oh, and the blue color was a bonus.--Bonnie Cha
iPod (fourth generation) Announced: July 19, 2004	20GB/$299 40GB/$399	4.1 by 2.4 by 0.57 inches; 5.6 ounces (20GB)	Then: The newest iPod is slightly thinner than its predecessor, measuring 4.1 by 2.4 by 0.57 inches and weighing 5.6 ounces. But the most noticeable new attribute is the Click Wheel, which adorns the megapopular iPod Mini. Gone are the four buttons located just beneath the display, which--as most users of the last iPod would agree--were hard to identify, inconsistent to the touch, and often difficult to access with one hand. Instead, they are now ingeniously integrated into the touch-sensitive wheel and reminiscent of the original user-friendly iPod. Now: I was a latecomer to the iPod phenom, but when I fell, I fell hard. I loved the fact that I could carry along thousands of songs at all times. Like many others before me, I flipped for the Shuffle option, which led to the rediscovery of a lot of beloved but semiforgotten music. There's no way I can go back to my pre-MP3 days now.--Uyen Phan
iPod Photo (fourth generation) Announced: October 26, 2004 (also February 23, 2005 and June 28, 2005)	20GB/$299 30GB/$399 40GB/$499 60GB/$599	4.1 by 2.4 by 0.63 inches; 5.9 ounces (30GB); 4.1 by 2.4 by 0.75 inches; 6.4 ounces (40GB)	Then: The monochrome LCD of the audio-only iPod looks downright drab when compared to the Photo's bright and vivid screen. As far as photo viewing goes, the experience certainly adds to the value of what is already an outstanding audio player. However, the small screen size will have some users squinting and others complaining that the device doesn't do the photos justice. But most will be impressed by the iPod's ability to instantly load pictures, which can be browsed using the Click Wheel in a fashion that takes less thought than that of browsing music since your choices are based on imagery instead of text. Now: This one is still my favorite of all time. A color screen, decent battery life, the perfect size and weight, and a big Click Wheel--to me, this one makes a better audio player than the fifth-generation version, though the original pricing ($499 for the 40GB version) was far out of reach for many shoppers.--James Kim
iPod U2 Special Edition (fourth generation) Announced: October 26, 2004	20GB/$349	4.1 by 2.4 by 0.57 inches; 5.6 ounces	Then: The iPod U2 (20GB only) shares most of its characteristics with the fourth-generation iPod but boasts a few key differences. The most noticeable is the player's black body and Ferrari-red scrollwheel--it definitely pops. Flip over the device, and you'll find another distinguishing design tweak: the signatures of all four U2 band members have been laser-etched in the iPod's shiny, silver rear casing, which also features a U2 stamp and the words special edition. Now: You didn't have to be a fan of U2 to want this special edition iPod. At the time, the black body and the red Click Wheel were such a departure from the standard iPod white that plenty of people were eager to shell out an extra 50 bucks for the player. The engraved signatures of the members of the band on the back were a nice touch, too.--Jasmine France
iPod Shuffle Announced: January 10, 2005	512MB/$99 1GB/$149	3.3 by 0.9 by 0.3 inches; 0.8 ounce	Then: Despite denouncing flash-based players in the past, Apple couldn't resist the 29 percent of the market that it doesn't already dominate. Minimal as can be, the Shuffle weighs less than an ounce, has no LCD, includes a built-in USB 2.0 interface, and comes in 512MB and 1GB capacities for the supercompetitive prices of $99 and $149, respectively. While other companies are packing their flash players with a boatload of features, Apple has created a device that stands on two concepts: affordability and simplicity. Turn it on, press play, and do the iPod Shuffle. However, it's not the right MP3 player for everyone. And it's certainly neither the first sub-$100 512MB nor LCD-less player we've seen. Now: The iPod Shuffle is perfect for those who already own an iPod. Despite critics who blasted it for having no screen, the Shuffle has its time and place--it's cheap, sounds good, and is comfortable to hold and use. For me, it's nice for quick jaunts around town. It's kind of throwback in that you approach it blindly a bit like you do a CD or cassette player, except you get the benefit of holding more songs and being able to skip through them digitally.--James Kim
iPod Mini (second generation) Announced: February 23, 2005	4GB/$199 6GB/$249	3.6 by 2.0 by 0.5 inches; 3.6 ounces	Then: The device's strongest design point, the Click Wheel, has been spiffed up with color-coded labels to match each color option, and Apple has done away with the unpopular gold model. But the most exciting enhancements are the improved battery life--now rated at 18 hours--and the addition of a 6GB option ($249). Even better, the 4GB iPod Mini is now priced more aggressively at $199. Now: Better battery life, brighter colors, and an improved Click Wheel--how could you not jump on this bandwagon?--James Kim
iPod U2 Special Edition (fourth generation; photo) Announced: June 28, 2005	20GB/$349	4.1 by 2.4 by 0.63 inches; 5.9 ounces	Then: ... the 20GB iPod U2 Special Edition has been updated to fall in line with the rest of the high-capacity iPod pack. That is, the black and red version inspired by "the world's most popular band" showcases a new 66,000-color screen and a photo-upload (via Apple's Camera Connector) feature, as well as the capability to view photos and album art. There's also a new podcast menu item, which is available for older iPods by way of a firmware upgrade. Now: This one has aged well over time. The colors give the iconic iPod a dose of personality.--James Kim
iPod Nano Announced: September 7, 2005	1GB/$129 2GB/$150	3.5 by 1.6 by 0.27 inches; 1.5 ounces	Then: The Apple iPod Nano sets new standards for gadget design and stretches the boundaries of technology. It's the world's first 4GB flash player, yet it's also one of the thinnest. Plus, it boasts a bright color screen that takes advantage of the bigger iPod's photo capabilities, though be aware that the Nano's screen scratches easily. Now: The Nano was more of what I was expecting from Apple when the company announced its first flash player, the uninspiring Shuffle. Though I'm not normally an iPod fan, the beautiful design and ultraslim profile of the Nano is hard not to like. Plus, Apple finally added another staple color to the iPod family: black.--Jasmine France
iPod (fifth generation) Announced: October 12, 2005	30GB/$299 60GB/$399	0.1 by 2.4 by 0.4 inches; 4.8 ounces (30GB)	Then: Apple somehow shrunk the width of the iPod body so drastically that the 30GB version is 31 percent thinner than the 20GB iPod. The 60GB version measures only 0.55 inch, meaning it too is thinner than the 20GB iPod. Personally, we think the older model, with its softer edges and added thickness, is a tad more hand-friendly. Now: My wife got me a 60GB video iPod for Christmas. It's a fantastic machine. My entire music collection (35GB) fits on it, and I've loaded it with podcasts, videocasts, and even the first few episodes of Lost, which I missed when it premiered.--Rafe Needleman
iPod (fifth generation; Harry Potter Special Edition) Announced: October 12, 2005	30GB/$299	0.1 by 2.4 by 0.4 inches; 4.8 ounces	Then: This is a 30GB iPod with the Hogwarts Crest laser engraved on the back. You can fill the iPod up with The Complete Harry Potter audiobook set for an additional $249. Now: Only for the obsessed.