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History of the Apple iPod |
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Wednesday, 27 July 2005 |
History of the Apple iPod
Braeburn
The iPod, more than any other single product from Apple, has changed the
company and the world. Before its introduction MP3 players were the realm of
small companies with limited budgets and no content. After the iPod the entire
industry has evolved and grown to the point where the largest computer companies
in the world have major interests in the digital music industry.
Tony Fadell, former employee of General Magic and Phillips, envisioned a brand
new MP3 player. Unlike the bulky flash memory based MP3 players from Rio and
other companies, Fadell wanted to deliver a small hard drive based player that
was linked with a content delivery system, where users could legally attain
downloaded music. The first company he pitched it to in 2000 was RealNetworks,
where the CEO, Rob Glaser, was already in control of a large content delivery
system through Real's premium radio and television channels. Real could not
rationalize going through the trouble of releasing an accessory to their already
profitable system, and would be caught off guard when the iTunes Music Store was
opened. Fadell also approached Phillips, which also rebuffed him.
Out of desperation, Fadell turned to Apple, which years before had sworn off
consumer electronics with their unsuccessful Pippin and Newton. The executives
at Apple were very enthusiastic (unbeknowst to Fadell, Apple had bought the
rights to SoundJam MP months before) about implementing Fadell's plan at Apple.
He was hired in early 2001 and was given a development team of around thirty
people and given a deadline of a year to release a successful product.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 July 2005 )
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