Apple Sunset

iPod (3rd generation, Dock Connector)

Discontinued 19 Jul 2004

Released

2 May 2003

Announced

28 Apr 2003

Discontinued

19 Jul 2004

Lifespan

1 year, 3 months

Category
iPod
Status
Discontinued
Apple support status
Obsolete (Apple no longer services it)
Release type
Refresh of an existing model
Previous model
iPod (2nd generation, Touch Wheel)
Replaced by
iPod (4th generation, Click Wheel)
Official Apple page
No longer available on Apple’s website
Tech specs
Apple specs ↗
Press release
Apple Newsroom ↗
More information
iPod Classic on Wikipedia ↗

Notes

The iPod (3rd generation) was a complete redesign, costing $299 for 10GB, $399 for 15GB and $499 for 30GB. The four buttons moved from the ring around the wheel to a row above it, and they became touch-sensitive and backlit, so nothing on the front of the player moved at all.

The dock connector was introduced on the iPod (3rd generation). This is the 30-pin socket on the bottom, and it went on to serve iPods, iPhones and iPads for the next nine years. The 15GB and 30GB models came with a dock that could feed a stereo as well as charge the player.

Windows owners could use it from the start, though the faster USB 2.0 syncing did not arrive until June, as a free download with a $19 cable to go with it. The disc in the box still held MusicMatch Jukebox rather than iTunes.

Battery life fell to a little over eight hours from the ten Apple had quoted before, and the player was thinner than either model that came before it. In September Apple changed the range twice more, putting a 20GB and a 40GB in place of the 15GB and 30GB that September, then settling on 15GB, 20GB and 40GB in January 2004.

It was announced on 28 April 2003, at the event where Apple also launched the iTunes Music Store. There were no pre-orders, and it was released to shops on 2 May, priced from $299.

The model it replaced was the iPod (2nd generation).

More in iPod

Release history

All iPod →

iPod release history

  1. 2014

  2. 9 Sept 2014

    iPod Classic 160GB (Late 2009) Discontinued

  3. ↑ about 5 years later
  4. 2009

  5. 9 Sept 2009

    iPod Classic 160GB (Late 2009) Released

    iPod Classic (120GB) Discontinued

  6. ↑ about 1 year later
  7. 2008

  8. 9 Sept 2008

    iPod Classic (120GB) Released

    iPod Classic Discontinued

  9. ↑ about 1 year later
  10. 2007

  11. 5 Sept 2007

    iPod Classic Released

    iPod (5th generation, Late 2006) Discontinued

    iPod U2 Special Edition Discontinued

  12. ↑ about 1 year later
  13. 2006

  14. 12 Sept 2006

    iPod (5th generation, Late 2006) Released

    iPod (5th generation, with Video) Discontinued

  15. ↑ about 1 year later
  16. 2005

  17. 12 Oct 2005

    iPod with Color Display Discontinued

  18. Oct 2005

    iPod (5th generation, with Video) Released

  19. ↑ 3 months later

  20. 28 Jun 2005

    iPod with Color Display Released

    iPod (4th generation, Click Wheel) Discontinued

    iPod Photo Discontinued

  21. ↑ 8 months later
  22. 2004

  23. Nov 2004

    iPod U2 Special Edition Released

  24. Oct 2004

    iPod Photo Released

  25. ↑ 2 months later

  26. 19 Jul 2004

    iPod (4th generation, Click Wheel) Released

    iPod (3rd generation, Dock Connector) Discontinued

  27. ↑ 1 year, 3 months later
  28. 2003

  29. 2 May 2003

    iPod (3rd generation, Dock Connector) Released

  30. 28 Apr 2003

    iPod (1st generation, Scroll Wheel) Discontinued

    iPod (2nd generation, Touch Wheel) Discontinued

  31. ↑ 9 months later
  32. 2002

  33. Aug 2002

    iPod (2nd generation, Touch Wheel) Released

  34. ↑ 9 months later
  35. 2001

  36. 10 Nov 2001

    iPod (1st generation, Scroll Wheel) Launch

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