Fourth Generation iPod - 2004
Announced on July 19, 2004, the fourth-generation iPod classic replaced the touch wheel from the third generation with the Click Wheel from the iPod mini, putting the four auxiliary buttons underneath a touch-sensitive scroll wheel. The casing was also slightly slimmer. Pricing was reduced and the lineup was simplified, as the 20 GB model was sold for US$299 and the 40 GB model for US$399. Notably, Apple began reducing pack-in accessories starting with the fourth generation. While a dock, carrying case, and wired remote were previously included with higher-end iPods, the higher-level 40 GB iPod only came with a dock.
In addition to using the iPod mini’s Click Wheel, the fourth generation classic used the more energy-efficient components of the mini, allowing the fourth generation iPod to over 12 hours of battery life while using the same battery as its predecessor.
A special U2 edition was announced on October 26, 2004. The plastic front piece was black and the scroll wheel was red. With 20 GB and the signatures of all four members of U2, the special edition iPod was priced at US$349 and also included a US$50 coupon for a US$149 collection of U2’s entire back catalog.
iPod photo
At the same time that the U2 iPod was announced, Apple also unveiled the iPod photo.
Positioned as a premium version of the standard fourth-generation iPod, the iPod photo featured a 220×176 pixel LCD capable of displaying up to 65,536 colors. The photo supported JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, and PNG graphic file formats, and could be attached to a television or other external display for slideshows. The battery was rated for 15 hours for music playback and 5 hours for slideshows with music. The photo was available in a 40 GB version for US$499 and a 60 GB version for US$599.
On February 23, 2005, the 40 GB model was replaced with a slimmer and lower-priced (US$349) 30 GB model. The price for the 60 GB model was dropped to US$449, and accessory pack-ins were reduced, making the dock, firewire cable, and television cable extra-cost options.
iPod (with color display)
On June 28, 2005, the iPod photo was merged into the monochrome iPod line. The 30 GB model was dropped, and the 20 GB monochrome iPod received a color screen. The price for the 60 GB model was also dropped to US$399.