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iPod Mini#Models

{{Short description|Digital audio player by Apple Inc.}}

{{Distinguish|iPad Mini}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}

{{lowercase}}

{{Information appliance

| title = iPod mini

| logo = IPod Mini logo.svg

| image = 150px

| caption = iPod Mini in Silver

| type = Digital audio player

| manufacturer = Apple Inc.

| family = iPod

| power = Lithium-ion battery

| connectivity = USB 2.0
FireWire
Dock connector
Remote connector

| lifespan = February 20, 2004 – September 7, 2005 ({{Age in years and months|month1=2|day1=20|year1=2004|month2=9|day2=7|year2=2005}})

| media = Microdrive hard drive (either 4 or 6 GB)

| operatingsystem = 1.4.1

| input = Click wheel

| display = 1.67" monochrome LCD at 138 x 110 pixels

| successor = iPod Nano

| model_no = A1051

}}

{{iPod models}}

The iPod Mini (stylized and marketed as the iPod mini) is a digital audio player that was designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It was positioned as a smaller, midrange model in Apple's iPod product line to complement the iPod Classic. The device was announced on January 6, 2004, and released on February 20 of the same year.{{Cite web|publisher=Apple Inc.|title=Apple - Press Info - Apple Introduces iPod mini|url=https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2004/01/06Apple-Introduces-iPod-mini.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709063744/https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2004/01/06Apple-Introduces-iPod-mini.html|archive-date=July 9, 2011|access-date=2016-09-27|website=www.apple.com}}{{Cite web|publisher=Apple Inc.|title=Apple - Press Info - Apple Ships New iPod mini|url=https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2004/02/17Apple-Ships-New-iPod-mini.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806224255/https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2004/02/17Apple-Ships-New-iPod-mini.html|archive-date=August 6, 2011|access-date=2016-09-27|website=www.apple.com}} A second generation version with enhanced battery life and increased storage was released on February 23, 2005.{{Cite web|publisher=Apple Inc.|title=Apple - Press Info - Apple Unveils New iPod mini Starting at Just $199|url=https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2005/02/23Apple-Unveils-New-iPod-mini-Starting-at-Just-199.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709063759/https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2005/02/23Apple-Unveils-New-iPod-mini-Starting-at-Just-199.html|archive-date=July 9, 2011|access-date=2016-09-27|website=www.apple.com}} While it was in production, it was one of the most popular electronic products on the market, with consumers often unable to find a retailer with the product in stock."supply shortages in Walmart: iPod Mini 2G, iPod Classic" - 2004 Walmart Announcement

The iPod Mini was the first iPod device to use the click wheel, which was developed for Apple by Synaptics. It combined the touch-sensitive scroll wheel of the third generation iPod with buttons located beneath the wheel. This interface proved to be popular and was adopted for several later iPod models. Above the wheel is a monochrome 1.67" LCD that displays a menu or information about the selected track. The iPod Mini was discontinued on September 7, 2005, when it was succeeded by the iPod Nano.{{Citation|last=peestandingup|title=Apple Music Special Event 2005-The iPod Nano Introduction|date=2006-02-13|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GRv-kv5XEg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/7GRv-kv5XEg| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=2016-09-27}}{{cbignore}} YouTube{{Cite web|publisher=Apple Inc.|title=Apple - Press Info - Apple Introduces iPod nano|url=https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2005/09/07Apple-Introduces-iPod-nano.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709095109/https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2005/09/07Apple-Introduces-iPod-nano.html|archive-date=July 9, 2011|access-date=2016-09-27|website=www.apple.com}}

Models

class="wikitable"new ecoca click wheel?
Model

!Image

!Capacity

!Colors

!Connection

!Original release date

!Minimum OS to sync

!Rated battery life (hours)

valign="top"

! rowspan="2"| 1st generation

|rowspan="1;" style="text-align:center;"|Image:Green ipodmini 1stgen.jpg

|style="text-align:center|4 GB

|colors — 5

  • Silver
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Pink
  • Gold

|USB or FireWire

|style="text-align:center;"|February 20, 2004

|style="text-align:center;"|Mac: 10.1.5 or later{{cite web |url=http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1834 |title=The differences between iPod mini and iPod mini (Second Generation) |publisher=Apple |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308015706/http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1834 |archive-date=March 8, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}
Windows: 2000

iTunes 4.6 or later

|style="text-align:center;"|audio: 8

colspan="7"|New smaller model, available in 5 colors. Introduced the "Click Wheel".
valign="top"

!rowspan="3"|2nd generation

|rowspan="2;" style="text-align:center;"|Image:IPod mini blue front 2G.jpg

|style="text-align:center;"|4 GB

|rowspan=2|

  • Silver
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Pink

|rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|USB or FireWire

|rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|February 23, 2005

|rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;"|Mac: 10.2.8 or 10.3.4 or later
Windows: 2000

iTunes 4.7 or later

|rowspan=2 align=center|audio: 18

align=center|6 GB
colspan="7"|Brighter color variants with longer battery life. Click Wheel lettering matched body color. Gold color discontinued. The second generation iPod Mini was the final monochrome iPod to be sold by Apple, with the larger iPod (fourth generation) replaced with color screen models in early 2005.

Details

The two generations of iPod Mini are almost identical apart from minor cosmetic differences. The first generation model has gray control symbols on the click wheel, while those on the second generation match the color of the body. Their major functional differences lay in their storage capacity and battery life. Both versions measure 3.6x2.0x0.5 inches (91x51x13 mm) and weigh 3.6 ounces (102 grams). The case is made from anodized aluminium. First generation iPod Minis were available in five colors: silver, gold, pink, blue, and green. The gold model was dropped from the second generation range. The pink, blue, and green models received brighter hues in the second generation but the silver model remained unchanged.

The iPod Mini uses Microdrive hard drives (CompactFlash II) made by Hitachi and Seagate. First generation models were available in a 4 GB size, while second generation models were available in both 4 GB and 6 GB versions (quoted as capable of storing roughly 1,000 and 1,500 songs, respectively). Second generation models have their capacity laser etched into the aluminum case.

Image:Ipod mini drive.jpg (4 GB Hitachi model), seen here on the right]]

The battery life for the first generation iPod Mini was criticized for its 8 hour duration,{{cite web |author=TechFan |title=Apple iPod Mini (4GB, Silver, first generation) MP3 player reviews – CNET Reviews |url=http://cnn-cnet.com.com/Apple_iPod_Mini_4GB_Silver_1st_generation/4505-6490_7-30657018.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719111741/http://cnn-cnet.com.com/Apple_iPod_Mini_4GB_Silver_1st_generation/4505-6490_7-30657018.html |archive-date=July 19, 2012 |access-date=November 29, 2011 |publisher=Cnn-cnet.com.com}} similar to the third generation iPod that was available at the time. Apple addressed this problem in the second generation models by increasing the battery life to about 18 hours, at the cost of removing the included FireWire and AC adapter cables to avoid increasing selling costs. A proprietary Apple 30-pin dock connector is located on the bottom of the device. The iPod Mini can charge and transfer files when connected to a computer via USB or FireWire. Along the top, it has a hold switch, a headphone jack, and a remote connector for accessories.

The iPod Mini supports MP3, AAC/M4A, WAV, AIFF, and Apple Lossless audio formats. It supports integration with iTunes and the iTunes Store, allowing for syncing of content between the software application and the iPod Mini.

Modification

{{Unreliable sources section|date=April 2025}}

Soon after the release of the iPod Mini, many third-party replacement batteries became available. By following online instructions, users could replace the battery themselves and avoid having to send the iPod back to Apple.{{cite web |title=iPod Mini Battery Replacement |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPod+Mini+Battery+Replacement/411 |website=iFixit |access-date=1 April 2025 |date=18 September 2024}} Many third-party batteries also claimed a higher capacity than the 450 mAh original stock battery – some claiming up to 1,300 mAh{{Cite web|title=1300 mah iPod Mini battery replacement w/CF battery life|url=https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1300-mah-ipod-mini-battery-replacement-w-cf-battery-life.1155688/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=MacRumors Forums|date=May 19, 2011 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=INSTEN 1300mAh BATTERY Compatible With iPod MINI 4GB: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Insten-1300mAh-BATTERY-Compatible-iPod/dp/B004I51X0E|access-date=2021-01-23|website=www.amazon.co.uk}} Commonly advertised capacities of third-party batteries are 500 mAh{{Cite web|title=eBay Mobile|url=https://pages.ebay.co.uk/mobile/wap.html|access-date=2021-01-23|website=pages.ebay.co.uk}} and 750 mAh.{{Cite web|title=Amazon.co.uk : ipod mini battery|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=ipod+mini+battery&ref=nb_sb_noss|access-date=2021-01-23|website=www.amazon.co.uk|language=en-gb}}{{Cite web|title=Apple iPod 1st and 2nd Generation. High capacity 2200 mAh Li-ion battery|url=http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/sbc_ipod_mini.htm|access-date=2021-01-23|website=www.smallbattery.company.org.uk}}{{Cite web|title=Battery 750mAh for iPod Mini|url=https://rounded.com/battery-750mah-for-ipod-mini.html|access-date=2021-01-23|website=rounded.com}}{{Cite web|last=B.V|first=BatteryUpgrade com, BraunOni|title=Apple iPod Mini (4GB) M9804 products - BatteryUpgrade|url=https://www.batteryupgrade.com/shopBrowser.php?shopGroupId=76052105|access-date=2021-01-23|website=www.batteryupgrade.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=750mAh EC003 High Capacity Battery for APPLE iPOD Mini 4GB, iPOD Mini 6GB - Newegg.com|url=https://www.newegg.com/p/0X6-00BM-008X1|access-date=2021-01-23|website=www.newegg.com|language=english|archive-date=February 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210222830/https://www.newegg.com/p/0X6-00BM-008X1|url-status=dead}}

The iPod Mini could be flashed to run iPodLinux or Rockbox firmware which has support for extra codecs, games and various other plugins and allowed music placed directly on the iPod to be played without using iTunes. Users have replaced the 4 or 6 GB Microdrive with high capacity 8, 16,[http://geektechnique.org/projectlab/753/how-to-turn-your-ipod-mini-into-a-flash-based-ipod.html turn your iPod mini into a flash based iPod :: projects :: geek technique], retrieved January 30, 2014 32, 64 and even 256 GB CompactFlash and SD cards. Aside from increased capacity, this has the advantage of increasing battery life and making the Mini more durable since CompactFlash cards are solid-state with no moving parts.

{{timeline of compact iPod models}}

References

{{Reflist|25em}}

External links

{{Commons|iPod mini}}

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20060618035455/http://support.apple.com/specs/ipod/iPod_mini.html iPod Mini specifications, both generations]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20090104090233/http://www.thestandard.com/news/2009/01/01/steve-jobs-greatest-macworld-video-hits-1998-2008?page=0%2C7 Video of Jobs launching the iPod Mini at Macworld 2004]

{{iPod}}

{{Apple hardware since 1998}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ipod Mini}}

Mini

Category:ITunes

Category:Computer-related introductions in 2004

Category:Products introduced in 2004

Category:Products and services discontinued in 2005

Category:Digital audio players