iPod Samsung ARM 2008

As launched on September 9, 2008, the Apple iPod classic (Late 2008/7th Generation) came with a 120 GB 4200 RPM ATA-66 hard drive, holding "up to" 30,000 songs in "128-Kbps AAC format" or "up to" 150 hours of video. On September 9, 2009, Apple upgraded the storage to a 160 GB hard drive, increasing capacity to 40,000 songs or 200 hours of video, and added "Genius Mixes" support via a software update on September 28, 2009. Otherwise, it is essentially the same (some refer to this version as the "3rd Generation" iPod classic or 8th Generation iPod).

Externally, the iPod classic (Late 2008/7th Gen) is virtually identical to the 80 GB version of the "original" iPod classic (6th Gen) it replaced. It features a 2.5" color LCD with an LED backlight (320x240, 163 ppi) and comes in either silver or black anodized aluminum with a chromed stainless steel back. Like the original iPod classic, it unfortunately lacks direct video output from the headphone jack, requiring the dock for this function—a downgrade from the iPod 5th Gen Enhanced.

However, this model offers slightly better battery life than the 80 GB model it succeeded, with 36 hours of music and 6 hours of video. The software is similar to the original iPod classic, featuring the "MacOS X Leopard" inspired interface with Cover Flow and the same games (iQuiz, Klondike, Vortex). It also added the "Genius" feature for creating dynamic playlists and, in the later 160 GB version, "Genius Mixes" functionality.

The Late 2008/7th Generation iPod classic was the final evolution of the iconic hard-drive-based music player. Its main selling point was its massive storage capacity, first 120GB and later a sprawling 160GB, which was unmatched by flash-based players. This made it the go-to choice for serious music collectors. The introduction of the Genius feature was a welcome software enhancement, creating surprisingly good playlists from a user's library. The all-metal design was sleek and durable, though the chrome back remained a fingerprint magnet. While the screen was no longer cutting-edge, and the audio quality, while good, was debated among audiophiles compared to older models, the sheer volume of music it could hold, combined with its excellent battery life, made it a beloved device. It represented the pinnacle of the dedicated music player, a digital jukebox for the pocket that has yet to be truly replicated in the streaming age.