IPod mini
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The iPod mini is a smaller version of Apple Computer's iPod portable audio player. It was announced on January 6, 2004, and released on February 20 of the same year. The device interoperates with both Macintosh and Windows PCs, with limited third-party support for Linux and other Unix workalikes. A second generation version was announced on February 23, 2005.
The device retains the popular touch-sensitive scroll wheel of the third generation iPod; however, instead of the four buttons around the wheel, the buttons are beneath the wheel itself (hence, the new wheel is known as a "click wheel"). To access one of the four buttons, a user physically pushes the edge of the wheel inward over one of the four labels. Like its predecessors, this wheel is developed for Apple by Synaptics. The click wheel is now also used in the fourth-generation iPod.
Above the wheel is a display which shows menus or information about the currently selected track.
Technical details
The two generations of the iPod mini are externally almost identical, with the differences lying in their storage and battery capacities. Both versions are 3.6 by 2.0 by 0.5 inches (91 by 51 by 13 mm) and weighs 3.6 ounces (102 grams). Its case is composed of anodized aluminum. First generation iPod minis were available in five colors: silver, gold, pink, blue, and green. (Some pink units have been known to turn to a more lavender hue over time.) The gold model has been dropped from the second generation range. Also, the 2G iPod minis have colour-coordinated buttons on the click wheel, e.g. 1G iPod minis had grey click-wheel "button" labels, while, for example, the 2G Green iPod mini has green labels.
The iPod mini uses ultra-thin Compact Flash Microdrive hard drives made by Hitachi. First generation models were confined to a 4GB hard drive. Second generation models are available in both 4GB and 6GB versions (capable of storing roughly 1,000 and 1,500 songs respectively) and now have the drive size laser etched on the case to help distinguish between the two. Because of the moving parts in the harddrive this makes the iPod mini rather fragile and can be broken if dropped onto a hard surface. The "broken" iPod mini will keep playing until it tries to load more music into its memory from the hard drive.
The battery life of the first generation of iPod mini was only some 8 hours, which led to some criticism of the battery's short duration. This problem was addressed in the second generation models which have a claimed battery life of about 18 hours - 50% better than the current full-size iPod, which has a 12-hour battery life. However, the 2G iPod minis no longer come with a Firewire cable or an AC power adaptor, which have been left out to reduce the selling prices of the new iPod minis.
A proprietary connector is provided on the bottom of the device for a connection to a computer (Hi-Speed USB or FireWire). The unit's battery is charged during connection. Along the top, it has a hold switch, a headphone plug, and a plug for connecting accessories such as the optional wired remote or a radio broadcaster.
Like the larger iPod, the iPod mini supports MP3, AAC/M4A, WAV, AIFF, and Apple Lossless audio formats. It also retains the iPod's seamless integration with iTunes and the iTunes Music Store, allowing for true auto-sync between the software application and the iPod mini.
See also
External links
- Apple's iPod mini site (http://www.apple.com/ipodmini/)
- iPod mini Product Overview (http://www.digitalmusicmuseum.com/apple/ipod-mini.php)
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