23 Oct 2001 → 23 Oct 2026

The iPod is 25.
Here's one that works.

Twenty-five years ago today, Steve Jobs promised “1,000 songs in your pocket.” Spin the wheel, hear the clicker, play Brick and listen to 24 songs that never existed.

iPod

Drag your finger round the wheel. Tap MENU, ⏮ ⏭ and ▶︎❚❚. Keyboard: click the iPod, then use ↑ ↓ Enter Esc.

Click Wheel white (2004)

This iPod is exactly

Inside the iPod

Things to try on it

Everything runs on the iPod above, using the wheel. Your scores and achievements stay on this device.

Brick

The Breakout clone that first hid inside the 2001 iPod as an easter egg. Spin to move the paddle.

Parachute

Aim the turret with the wheel and stop the paratroopers. Careful: every shot costs a point.

Music Quiz

Hear a clip and name the song before the bar runs out. Learn the library first, or just guess.

iPod Quiz

Ten random questions from 32 about the iPod's 25 years. Can you get 8 right?

Notes

The iPod could hold text notes. Ours has twelve short ones on how the iPod came to be.

The 2001 secret

The first iPod hid a game. To find it you had to hold one button on one particular screen. Try it here.

Your high scores

    Clicks so far: 0 · Songs played: 0 of 24

    Achievements 0/13

    The 2001 spec sheet

    $399

    US price at launch. On sale Saturday 10 November 2001.

    5 GB

    A 1.8-inch Toshiba hard drive, enough for about 1,000 songs.

    6.5 oz

    About 184 g, with a 160 × 128 pixel screen and a white backlight.

    10 hours

    Of continuous music on a rechargeable lithium polymer battery.

    < 10 min

    To copy 1,000 songs over FireWire, Apple said. A whole CD in under 10 seconds.

    ~450 million

    iPods sold before the last one was discontinued on 10 May 2022.