iPod PP5020 2005

The Apple iPod (with Color Display) was effectively a rebranded version of the iPod photo, shipping with updated software and a lower price point. The new software featured a "Podcast menu, including bookmarking within a Podcast and the ability to display Podcast artwork in color."

It was available with either a 20 GB or 60 GB 4200 RPM ATA-66 hard drive, holding "up to" 5,000 or 15,000 songs, respectively, in "128-Kbps AAC format," as well as "up to" 20,000 or 25,000 photos in iPod viewable format.

Although Apple classified this model as part of the iPod (4G) series—sharing the "ClickWheel" and basic case design (with an "iBook white" front and chromed stainless steel back)—it featured a two-inch diagonal 65,536-color LCD with an LED backlight, just like the iPod photo models.

It supported viewing photos, optionally with music, on the internal display and on a TV or projector using an AV cable (sold separately, along with the dock). It offered up to 15 hours of music and 5 hours of slideshows, but skip protection was reduced to 17 minutes from the iPod (4G)'s 25 minutes. All iPod (with Color Display) models could view images transferred via the optional iPod Camera Connector (US$29).

This model essentially merged the premium iPod photo line into the standard iPod lineup, making a color screen the new normal. The ability to see album art in full color while listening to music was a highly praised enhancement that significantly enriched the user experience. It retained the celebrated Click Wheel from the 4th generation, ensuring that navigation remained intuitive and efficient. The photo viewing capability, allowing users to carry their picture libraries and view them as slideshows with music, was a major selling point. By integrating these features into the main product line and offering it at a more accessible price point than the original iPod photo, Apple successfully made the color display a standard feature, and it was lauded as a logical and welcome evolution of the iconic music player.