iPod classic (6th generation)
The iPod Sixth Generation, marketed and sold as the "iPod Classic", was released in September 2007, and featured many notable differences from previous iPods, such as an aluminum front panel, a brand new, redesigned operating system, as well as many hardware changes under the hood.
Information
- Release Date: September 5th, 2007
- Processor: Samsung ARM processor (Specifics Unknown)
- RAM: 64MB
- Storage: 1.8" 4200RPM Toshiba ZIF hard drive
- Battery:
- 80GB, thin: 650mAh, 30 hours audio playback, 5 hours video playback
- 160GB, thick: 850mAh, 40 hours audio playback, 7 hours video playback
- 120GB, thin: 650mAh, 36 hours audio playback, 6 hours video playback
- Interface: 30 pin dock connector (USB Data + charging, FireWire charging)
Models | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Release date | September 5th, 2007 | September 9th, 2008 | ||
Processor | Apple-branded Samsung ARMv7 processor | |||
RAM | 225 bytes (64 MiB) | |||
Capacity | 80GB (thin) | 160GB (thick) | 120GB (thin) | |
Maximum capacity (after upgrade) | 237 bytes (128 GiB) or approx. 50,000 songs Can be upgraded to 241 bytes (2 TiB) with Rockbox | |||
MSRP | $249 | $349 | $249 |
Key Features
This iPod featured a number of changes compared to the iPod video. The UI was redesigned, this time featureing a split UI in upper-level menus. The left side was more akin to the iPod nano 4th-7th gen menus, with a portrait orientation, with the right side featuring art for the specific section you were browsing (Album Art in the music section, Video Thumbnails in the video section). Artwork was also more focused on, with Albums sorted by Name, and featuring the album artwork next to them, compared to the 5th gen which displayed no such artwork. CoverFlow was also added from the iPhone, and allowed scrolling through the album art with the use of the Clickwheel horizontally. The Now Playing screen also put the album art on a slant. Both the Now Playing and CoverFlow screens also feature reflections on the screen from the album art, to give the impression of browsing through a physical music collection. The included games were also reworked to take advantage of the iPod's increase in processing power, and 5th gen iPod games were later made compatible with the 6th gen model and above.
This model of iPod doubled the storage capacity of the previous 5th gen models, while also doubling the battery life, with a maximum quoted battery life of 40 hours for the 160GB model. All while encompasing almost the same physical dimentions.
Revisions
On September 9, 2008 at the "Lets Rock" event, Apple replaced both the 80gb and 160GB variants with a thin 120GB model, commonly known as a "6.5 Gen", retailing for $249. The new iPod introduced a few new features, such as the ability to access Genius Mixes, control audio using the in-line controls built into headphones, and record Voice Memo's using an external microphone. No software update exists to enable those features on the 2007 models. The new version also replaced the black faceplate with a dark gray faceplate, but retains the black Click Wheel.
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