The iPod family album

The iPod has come a long way since the introduction of the original 5GB model more than five years ago. In 2002, Apple doubled the iPod's capacity and added the signature solid-state scrollwheel. A year later, the capacity had increased to as much as 40GB. And 2004 saw the introduction of several new iPods, including the mighty Mini, the pricey Photo, and the black U2 iPod. In early 2005, we witnessed the splashy arrival of the flash-based Shuffle, the 30GB iPod Photo, and the updated Mini, which added a 6GB version to the series as well as improved battery life. Then came the 20GB photo-friendly iPod (Apple dropped "Photo" from the name of this and the 60GB versions) and the colorized iPod U2 Special Edition.

In late 2005, the dynasty continued with the arrival of the flash-based iPod wunderkind, the 2GB and 4GB Nano in black or white. And the superthin 5G iPod (30GB and 60GB sizes, white or black) lost some weight but gained a bigger screen and an appetite for video. In 2005, the ever-changing family bid farewell to mainstays the iPod Mini and the iPod Photo, including the U2 edition. In 2006, Apple released a 1GB version of the iPod Nano, slashed Shuffle prices, and introduced the U2 Special Edition iPod (5G).

The latest crop of iPods further tweaks the family, adding more subdued colors to Shuffle and Nano lines and increasing the capacity of the hard drive-based iPod--now dubbed the Classic--to a capacious 160GB. The iPod interface has also undergone its biggest change in years, with the Nano and the Classic offering split-screen browsing with front-and-center album art. Plus, the Nano's screen has expanded to two inches and can now play video. Finally, Apple has added a phone-less iPhone to the mix with the iPod Touch. As the description suggests, the Touch will offer all the multimedia capabilities of an iPhone--WiFi browsing included--you just can't make calls from it. And as icing on the cake, the Touch supports over-the-air purchasing of iTunes tracks. Not bad for an update--check out Apple's current iPod lineup below, or read all about it over at iPod Central.