In what year did Apple release the first iPod?

Apple released the first iPod in 2001. The original iPod became available on November 10, 2001, introducing a compact digital music player built around a mechanical click wheel and a 5GB hard drive.

Apple announced the device on October 23, 2001, with the slogan “1,000 songs in your pocket.” It was designed to work closely with iTunes, which had launched for Macintosh computers earlier that year. That integration made transferring and organizing music much easier than with many competing MP3 players.

The first iPod was initially compatible with Macs and connected through FireWire rather than the USB connection later associated with the product line. Its small size, simple interface, and relatively large storage helped it stand out in a crowded portable-music market. Later models added Windows support, color screens, video playback, and wireless features.

The year can be confused with 2003, when Apple introduced the third-generation iPod and expanded Windows compatibility through iTunes. The iPod line continued through several families, including the iPod mini, nano, shuffle, and touch, before Apple discontinued it in 2022.