Over the weekend,the Apple iPod turned 20. To honor this, we created a deluge of content, includingvox pops, how it got us throughwar, and comparing it tothe Zune.
But it wasn’t just us getting involved in this celebration.The folks over at Panicgave us all another gift: a glimpse at a prototype of the original iPod. Take a look at this beauty:
What’s breathtaking about this prototype iPod here is thesizeof the damn thing. Have a look at it alongside the finished product:
Now, did you notice that in the headline for this piece, I put “prototype” in quotes? Well, that’s because what we’re seeing above isn’tquitea prototype. Effectively, what we’re looking at are the guts of the original iPod in something called a “non-enclosure device.”
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Let’s have a look inside this big plastic box for some more context:
As you can see, there’s a lot of empty space in the enclosure. The date on there is also interesting: September 3, 2001. That’s less than two months before the launch of the original iPod. A curious combination of facts.
Thankfully,Tony Fadell(inventor of the iPod and co-inventor of the iPhone) shined some light on it.
This is a P68/Dulcimer iPod prototype we (very quickly) made before the true form factor design was ready. Didn’t want it look like an iPod for confidentiality – the buttons placement, the size – it was mostly air inside – and the wheel worked (poorly)https://t.co/qeNMHMmVsc
— Tony Fadell (@tfadell)October 23, 2021
In other words, this prototype allowed people to work on the software of the original iPod without the danger of its outward appearance being leaked.
Well, I hope you took as much joy as me from seeing this prototype of the original iPod. Now, back to dreaming of whata modern version of Apple’s MP3 player would be like…
Story byCallum Booth
Callum Booth is a freelance journalist with over a decade of experience. Previously, he was the Managing Editor of TNW, where his reporting(show all)Callum Booth is a freelance journalist with over a decade of experience. Previously, he was the Managing Editor of TNW, where his reporting was cited widely, including in VICE, the FT, and the BBC.
Callum’s writing has appeared in The Verge, The Daily Telegraph, Time Out, and many more. He covers the full spectrum of technology, with a particular focus on how it shapes our daily lives. And a lot of regulation stuff too.
Outside of work, Callum’s an avid bookworm, a Fisherman’s Friends addict, and resolutely unshaven. Follow him on Twitter @CallumBooth or visit www.callumbooth.net.
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