Apple Has Sold Over 2 Million iPods, Introduces New Colorful iPod Mini

by , 3:15 PM EST, January 6th, 2004

The iPod phenomenon continues to roll on, with Steve Jobs today announcing that Apple has sold over 2 million iPods since its debut, having sold 730,000 iPods in the December quarter alone. In addition, 10GB iPod has been moved up to 15GB for the same US$299 price point, and Apple has introduced a new 4 GB iPod for US$50 less, at US$249. From Apple:

Apple announced today that over two million iPods have been sold since its introduction, solidifying its position as the number one digital music player in the world. Apple also announced the immediate availability of a new 15GB model offering customers 50 percent more storage for just $299 (US). All iPods work seamlessly with the award-winning iTunes digital music jukebox software and the pioneering iTunes Music Store, which has sold over 30 million songs, providing music fans with the best digital music experience on either a Mac or Windows computer.

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iPod and iPod mini (also announced today) are the only portable music players with Apple's patent pending Auto-Sync, an innovative feature that automatically downloads an entire digital music library onto iPod and keeps it up-to-date whenever iPod is plugged into a Mac or Windows computer using FireWire or USB 2.0. The ultra-portable iPod is designed with a solid-state "no moving parts" touch wheel and backlit buttons for precise, effortless navigation through thousands of songs; an elegant dock for easy syncing and charging with an audio line out for quick connection to a home stereo or powered speakers; and "On-The-Go" playlists so users can build a playlist right on their iPod.

Apple's iTunes Music Store for Mac and Windows computers is the perfect companion to iPod. The iTunes Music Store makes it easy for music fans to find, purchase and download their music online. Music purchased from the iTunes Music Store is downloaded right into Apple's popular iTunes digital music jukebox software, where users can easily manage their music library, create playlists, burn custom CDs and transfer their entire music library onto their iPod for on-the-go listening anywhere.

More than just music, iPod is also great for listening to and keeping track of audiobooks; as a clock and alarm; for synchronizing and managing contacts, calendars and to-do lists; as a note reader for downloaded text-based information; and for digital voice recording and photo storage with optional Belkin accessories, allowing users to record hundreds of hours of audio and store thousands of digital photos on their iPod. iPod includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for more than eight hours of continuous music.

The new 15GB iPod is available now from Apple for US$299. The 20GB and 40GB iPods continue to be available for US$399 and US$499, respectively.

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As has been rumored by quite a few news outlets and every rumor site under the sun, Apple has released a new, smaller in size and smaller in capacity MP3 player called the "iPod mini." Available in five colors, the 4GB iPod mini is the first Apple product to come in colors since the demise of the iMac G3. From Apple:

Apple today introduced iPod mini, the smallest portable music player ever to hold up to 1,000 CD-quality songs. iPod mini is encased in an ultra-portable, lightweight anodized aluminum body available in five stylish colors—silver, gold, pink, blue or green—and features a patent pending, touch-sensitive Click Wheel for easy, one-handed navigation. iPod mini features the same award-winning user interface as its “big brother” iPods and works effortlessly with Apple’s iTunes Music Store, the world’s number one digital music service, and the iTunes digital music jukebox software for seamlessly buying, managing and listening to digital music collections.

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iPod mini is the perfect combination of ultra-portable design, storage capacity, ease-of-use and audio performance. iPod mini is smaller than most cell phones and weighs only 3.6 ounces. Building on the success of the original touch wheel, iPod mini features an innovative, new Click Wheel that combines the ease and simplicity of a touch wheel with the precision of mechanical buttons for precise, one-handed navigation. iPod mini users can transfer a song per second from their Mac or Windows computer and conveniently charge iPod mini with either the included FireWire or USB 2.0 cable.

iPod mini is the ultimate fashion statement with a choice of five stylish colors—silver, gold, pink, blue or green—the hallmark white headphones and a new belt clip. With a backlit, recessed screen and lightweight, yet durable anodized aluminum, iPod mini is the ultimate portable digital music player. Users can purchase an optional arm band, in-ear headphones or a dock to enhance their iPod mini experience.

iPod mini features Apple’s patent pending Auto-Sync technology that automatically downloads an entire digital music library onto iPod mini and keeps it up-to-date whenever iPod mini is plugged into a Mac or Windows computer using FireWire or USB 2.0.

Users can personalize their new iPod mini with a custom laser engraving on the back. iPod mini can be custom engraved with a name or personal message to commemorate special events such as a graduation, birthday or a winning team’s season, as well as for identification in case they lose their iPod.

The iPod mini will be available in February in the the United States for US$249, and will be available worldwide in April.

The Mac Observer Spin:

New, smaller iPod? Great.

Available in different colors? Nice touch.

4GB capacity? A nice size.

US$249? Uhm, what? You're kidding, right?

By now, you're probably used to a fair amount of post-keynote bitching, but this is for a legitimate cause. You can buy a 4GB iPod mini for US$249, or you can shell out only US$50 more for an iPod with almost four times the capacity? That's simply a terrible strategy for Apple to pursue.

The news outlets predicting a new, smaller iPod predicted a price point of US$99 for the new player, which would have been great. US$149 also would have been a great price. Even US$199 would have been good. But while US$249 might be a good price for the unit if the regular iPod didn't exist, it does, and it's only slightly higher in price.

That said, aside from the price, it's a pretty nice little MP3 player. The color choices are sure to be popular, and the interface is even simpler, with the navigation buttons built into the scrollwheel. And who knows, people were complaining about the price of the original iPod when it came out a few years ago, and look at it now. Two million sold. That's amazing.

We also wanted to make sure you caught that bit about Apple having sold 730,000 in the December quarter. That's quite a feat. As Steve Jobs quipped during the keynote when he said that Apple had achieved 70% market share, ""It feels great to get above that 5%, right?"

Yes it does.

Apple