A silver, slender, hand-held rectangular box has curved corners and small rectangular screen over circle control button panel. The rectanglular digital screen sits at the top half of the device. Beneath that, the circular white control button panel has divided four sections. At the top is a button with words 'Menu' at the top, and a play/pause button opposite, and arrow buttons on the left and right for certain functions: rewind, fast forward. In the middle is a circular touch pad that surrounds a central circle button used for the select function.

There are 3 other images of this object. See our image rights statement.

See more objects with the tag personal, entertainment, music, digital, minimalism, portable, innovative, handheld, extrude, white plastic.

Object Timeline

1970	We photographed this object.
2001	Work on this object began.
2009	We acquired this object.
2015	We photographed this object.
2017	We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
2018	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

iPod Digital Music Player

This is a Digital music player. It was designed by Apple Industrial Design Team and the design director was Jonathan Ive and manufactured by Apple Inc.. It is dated 2001 and we acquired it in 2009. Its medium is plastic, polycarbonate, stainless steel. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

Apple’s iPod and its variants are among the most influential personal appliances of the 21st century. This first generation iPod is a small, elegant form. The tactile appeal of the milky, translucent face is reinforced by simple shapes and contours inviting one to touch the controls—the user interface is an innovative mechanical scroll wheel rather than traditional buttons.
Apple Computer, Inc., founded in 1976, by Stephen Wozniak and Steve Jobs, was well established as an innovator in the personal computer field by the time British designer, Jonathan Ive, joined the company in 1992. Ive rose to become the Senior Vice President of Industrial Design, and under his design direction in 1998–99, Apple introduced the iMac and iBook personal computer and laptop lines noted for their bulging, translucent, gumdrop colored housings. By 2001, the year the iPod was introduced as Apple’s entry into the growing personal digital music player market, Ive’s designs shifted to a more minimalist aesthetic. The sleek, smooth forms in titanium or aluminum used for Apple’s powerful computer products were geared toward the business world, while glossy white casings were intended for the consumer market. The original iPod, with its iconic thin rectangular shape, white face, and chrome-colored back characterized this style.
The iPod technology and distinctive, universally recognizable design make this portable media player important in the continuum of industrial design, a major category for the museum’s collection, a segment of which includes audio recording and playback devices.

It is credited Gift of David and Kelly Theresa Linton.

iPod Nano Digital Media Player
polished anodized aluminum, arsenic-free glass, molded polycarbonate resin.
Gift of Apple.
2010-34-6

Bright orange, brushed metal digital audio player that can fit in the palm of your hand. It is just narrower and taller than a credit card. The side edges are rounded, though the top and bottom are flat. The top two thirds of the front has a screen, shown black. The bottom third shows a white wheel, whose edge is thinner than a fingertip, and can be pressed. There are control symbols at the top, right, bottom, and left of this wheel. Moving clockwise from the top, these icons are, the word “Menu,” two arrows pointing right to a vertical line, an arrow pointing to the right and two vertical lines, and two arrows pointing left to a vertical line.

iPod Nano Digital Media Player
polished anodized aluminum, arsenic-free glass, molded polycarbonate resin.
Gift of Apple.
2010-34-1

T 52 Clairtone Portable Radio
molded plastic, metal.
Gift of Barry Friedman and Patricia Pastor.
1986-99-23

Our curators have highlighted 3 objects that are related to this one.

This is a rectangular, front faced radio with curved corner edges. The front panel is a dot grid of hole-punched patterned plastic. It has a barely visible speaker on the left side, behind the plastic face. On the right is a gray and clear circular window with small lines, numbers and red pointer to indicate station. Beneath, there are two white, small, unmarked dials.

SK 25 Radio
plastic, metal.
Gift of Barry Friedman and Patricia Pastor.
1986-99-16

Sample Book, Cobban Brothers, Wall Paper and Room Mouldings

0406, Vibeat Tactile Audio Device, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrit3ghotte&.
Senses.0406

1004, Cyrano Scent Player, 2017
Senses.1004

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 10.4 x 6.1 x 1.9 cm (4 1/8 x 2 3/8 x 3/4 in.)

Cite this object as

iPod Digital Music Player; Designed by Apple Industrial Design Team (United States); Design Director: Jonathan Ive; Manufactured by Apple Inc. (United States); USA; plastic, polycarbonate, stainless steel; H x W x D: 10.4 x 6.1 x 1.9 cm (4 1/8 x 2 3/8 x 3/4 in.); Gift of David and Kelly Theresa Linton; 2009-49-1

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Bob Greenberg Selects.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2E1PP/
Accession Number 2009-49-1
Object ID 18733525