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Apple iPod™ 20GB

Portable MP3 player

Zoom Apple iPod™ 20GB
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Apple iPod™ 20GB Apple iPod™ 20GB Apple iPod™ 20GB Apple iPod™ 20GB
 
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Item# 472IPOD20G offer details

 
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Apple

Our take on the Apple iPod™ 20GB

Its coolness factor is undeniable. But don't buy this iPod just because of its elegantly simple appearance, or even its thoughtful, user-friendly interface. Not when its slender casing houses an ample 20GB of memory — enough to store hundreds of hours' worth of music, as well as audio books, and computer files you want to back up!

Plus, the iPod is now compatible with both Macintosh® and Windows® computers (see requirements below). And Apple has revamped its controls, including the popular scroll wheel, so that they're backlit and touch-sensitive. The supplied Dock is an easy way to connect your iPod and charge its battery without having to fumble with cables. An in-line remote makes playback functions more accessible, and with the supplied belt clip carry case, the iPod is ready-to-wear!

Three games are included — you can even play while you listen to your favorite music. A notes reader lets you view text that you've downloaded from your computer, and the contacts list and appointment calendar help you stay organized. When you travel, use the iPod's handy wake timer as an alarm.

Read a hands-on review of Apple's iPod at CrutchfieldAdvisor.com

Learn how to use an Apple iPod with your car stereo at CrutchfieldAdvisor.com

Details:

  • 20GB hard drive holds approximately:
    • 666 hours of music at 64 Kbps
    • 333 hours at 128 Kbps
    • other bitrates also supported
  • plays MP3, WAV, AAC, AIFF (uncompressed), and Audible files
  • functions as an external hard drive for backup of computer files
  • backlit LCD displays track info
  • touch-sensitive, backlit controls
  • 25-minute skip protection
  • repeat, resume, and random play
  • 22 EQ settings
  • sleep and wake timers
  • notes reader
  • 3 games: Solitaire, Brick, and Parachute
  • appointment calendar and contacts list
  • FireWire® (IEEE 1394) interface (cable included)
  • 6-pin-to-4-pin FireWire adapter
  • earbud headphones
  • in-line remote control
  • AC adapter/charger
  • Dock for computer connection and battery charging
  • carry case with attached belt clip
  • iTunes® CD-ROM (for Mac; iTunes for Windows is available for download)
  • up to 8 hours playback with included lithium ion rechargeable battery
  • 2-7/16"W x 4-1/8"H x 11/16"D
  • weight: 5.6 oz. (includes built-in battery)
  • warranty: 1 year

Computer requirements:

    Macintosh:
  • built-in FireWire port
  • Mac OS X v.10.1.4 or later (v.10.2 or later recommended)


  • Windows:
  • built-in or Windows-certified FireWire or USB port (USB connection requires a separate iPod USB 2.0 + FireWire cable)
  • Windows 2000 or XP

For additional requirements, see Detailed Info.

 

Hands-on research from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)

Features and Specs

Features and Specs
General
File Formats
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Storage Capacity at 128 kbps
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Storage Capacity at 64 kbps
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Voice Recording
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Radio Tuner
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FM Presets
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Display Illumination
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Display Color
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Included Headphone Type
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Equalizer Presets
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Maximum Battery Life
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Included Battery Type
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Weight with Battery (ounces)
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Width (inches)
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Height (inches)
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Depth (inches)
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Parts Warranty
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1 Year
Labor Warranty
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1 Year
Media Types
Built-In Memory
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Built-In Memory Type
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Removable Media
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Inputs & Outputs
Headphone Output
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USB
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IEEE 1394
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Other PC Connections
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Product Research

Product Research
What's in the box?

Download owner's manual

  • 20GB iPod Digital Music Player
  • Wired remote control with attached 34" cord
  • Earbud headphones with 44" cord and male 3.5mm miniplug
  • 4 Foam earbud pads
  • iPod Dock
  • Carry case with belt clip
  • Cloth carry bag
  • Power adapter
  • FireWire adapter (female 6-pin to male 4-pin)
  • 69" Cable with iPod Dock Connector on one end and 6-pin FireWire connector on the other end
  • 2 Dock Plug covers
  • iPod i-Tunes (MusicMatch) CD-ROM software
  • User's Guide
  • Quick Reference
  • Software License Agreement
  • Warranty information

Our Product Research Team

At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box, verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

Features
Music Management Software
System Requirements

Features

Compatibility: Unlike previous versions of the Apple iPod, the 20GB version is compatible with both Macintosh and Windows operating systems. See System Requirements section below for minimum requirements.

Storage Capacity: This iPod has a built-in 20GB hard drive, capable of storing over 5,000 songs (4-minute song average--recorded in AAC format at 128 kbps). In addition to storing audio, you can use the hard drive to store data files as well.

Audio Formats: The iPod supports the following audio formats for each operating system:

  • Mac:
    • AAC (up to 320 kbps)
    • MP3 (up to 320 kbps and VBR)
    • WAV
    • AIFF
    • Audible
  • Windows:
    • MP3 (32 to 320 kbps and VBR)
    • WAV
    • Audible
    • AAC (requires downloaded iTunes software for Windows)
    • AIFF (requires downloaded iTunes software for Windows)

Display: The grayscale liquid crystal display measures 2" diagonally with 160 x 128 pixel resolution, 0.24mm dot pitch, and white LED backlight. In the Settings menu, you can adjust the screen contrast.

Backlighting: The display's blue-white LED backlight illuminates the LCD screen and lights the buttons red for a selectable amount of time each time a button is pressed. The backlight timer can be set for 2, 5, 10 or 20 seconds, always on or off.

Skip Protection: In addition to the hard drive, the iPod has a memory cache. Since it is solid state, there are no moving parts, so it is not affected by movement. The memory preloads up to 25 minutes of music to the cache at a time, and the iPod plays the music from the cache instead of the hard drive. The 25 minutes of skip protection is nearly twice the amount found in other hard-drive-based MP3 players.

Controls: The iPod's touch-sensitive controls are located on the front of the unit. There are 3 Playback Mode buttons (Play/Pause, Previous/Rewind, Next/Fast-forward), a Menu button, and a circular Scroll pad surrounding the Select button. The Scroll pad and Select button allow you to navigate through menus and song lists, highlight the desired selection, and select the item. To avoid unwanted actions due to accidental button pressing, you can disable the iPod's buttons with the top-mounted hold button.

Remote Control: The supplied wired remote control plugs in between the iPod and the headphones. The 4-button remote allows you to control volume, fast-forward/skip forward, rewind/skip backward, play and pause. The remote also has a Hold button which disables the remote buttons' functions. The iPod's Hold button and the remote's Hold button do not affect one another.

Playback Functions: You can set the iPod to repeat one song over and over, or repeat all songs in the list (album or playlist) from which the song was selected. You can also have the iPod shuffle songs or albums. When set to shuffle songs, it plays all the songs at random from the list the song was selected. When set to shuffle albums, it plays all the songs on an album in order, then randomly selects another album and plays it through in order. During Shuffle play, the songs do not repeat until all songs have been played.

iPod Dock: The supplied iPod Dock holds the iPod upright as it charges or transfers music. The iPod cable attaches the iPod Dock to the power adapter or to your computer. In addition, the iPod Dock has a 3.5mm minijack stereo line output for connecting the iPod to a home stereo or external powered speakers.

On-The-Go Playlists: You can program the iPod to play the songs you want in the order you want. The songs are queued in the On-The-Go playlist. In addition to individual songs, you can queue entire lists of songs (albums) in the On-The-Go playlist. There is no limit to the number of selections you can put in the On-The-Go playlist.

Equalizer: The iPod's built-in equalizer has 22 EQ presets to change the sound to suit a particular music genre or style. The presets include: Acoustic, Bass Booster, Bass Reducer, Classical, Dance, Deep, Electronic, Flat, Hip Hop, Jazz, Latin, Loudness, Lounge, Piano, Pop, R&B, Rock, Small Speakers, Spoken Word, Treble Booster, Treble Reducer, Vocal Booster and Off.

Headphones: The iPod comes equipped with earbud-style headphones with 18mm drivers using Neodymium magnets. If desired, you can use any headphones with a 3.5mm miniplug.

Clock Functions: The iPod has an internal clock with time/date settings, a calendar, an alarm clock and sleep timer. The calendar can be advanced a day at a time or a month at a time. The alarm clock can be set to any minute up to 24 hours in advance. The sleep timer can be set to automatically turn off the unit in 15, 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes.

Contacts/Calendar Events: When using a Mac with OS X and iSync, you can import contact information (name, address, phone, e-mail, etc.) or calendar events (appointments, to do lists, etc) automatically into the iPod for use on the go.

Note Reader: The iPod has a built-in note reader that lets you download text-based information and read it on the screen.

Games: In addition to enjoying music and books, you can play one of three pre-loaded games on your iPod. The games that are available include Brick, Parachute, and Solitare.

Computer Interfaces: The iPod can be connected to your computer via 4-pin or 6-pin FireWire (also called IEEE 1394 or i.LINK), or by USB 2.0 or 1.1. The unit comes equipped with a cable that has the proprietary iPod dock connector on one end and 6-pin FireWire on the other end. It also has a 6-pin to 4-pin FireWire adapter for use with computers with a 4-pin FireWire connector. To connect the iPod via USB, you will need the optional iPod FireWire and USB cable (item # 472IPODUSB).

Power Requirements: The iPod has a built-in rechargeable, non-removable, lithium ion battery (630 mAh). You can charge the iPod by placing it in the iPod Dock, or plug it directly into the power adapter via the iPod Dock Connector to FireWire cable. When fully charged, the battery provides approximately 8 hours of playback time, and about 2 weeks standby time. It charges via the FireWire connector when connected to a compatible computer system or the supplied power adapter. The battery charges up to 80% of capacity in 1 hour and fully charges in 3 hours. A battery life indicator appears at the top of the display. You can also operate the unit while it's connected to the power adapter. Note: All Macintosh computers and some Windows PC computers with 6-pin FireWire ports can charge the iPod through the FireWire cable.

Specifications:

  • Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz
  • Weight: 5.6 ounces
  • Operating Temperature: 32° to 95°
  • Maximum Operating Altitude: 10,000 feet

Music Management Software

iTunes: The supplied CD-ROM software provides iTunes 4 music management software for Mac users. This software allows you to organize and manage your music and audio downloads. With the software, you can buy music and audio books from the iTunes Music Store, create you own custom audio or data CDs, import tracks in AAC, rate tracks and sort your library based on ratings, create mixes automatically with Smart Playlists, share and stream playlists with up to three other Mac users, play audiobooks or learn a foreign language.

MusicMatch Jukebox: The supplied CD-ROM software provides MusicMatch Jukebox for Windows users. This software will virtually do for Windows users what the iTunes software can do for Mac users with a few exceptions (such as import tracks in AAC format).

iTunes Upgrade: The Apple Computer/iPod website includes a free downloadable upgrade for iTunes, which includes iTunes for Windows. iTunes 4.1.1 is available for Windows XP and Windows 2000 users only, and will allow you to import music in the AAC format, as well as all of the other benefits of iTunes for Mac. iTunes 4.1 is also an available upgrade for Mac users. Note: Minimum requirements for downloading the iTunes upgrade are different than the requirements for the supplied software.

Volume Levels: Both iTunes and MusicMatch Jukebox can adjust the volume of songs automatically, so they play at the same relative volume levels.

Audio Books: In addition to music, you can download audio books from the iTunes Music Store (approximately 5,000 titles), or from Audible.com, an independent website with over 18,000 titles. The iPod will keep track of where you left off when you listened last like a virtual bookmark, and when you sync up with iTunes, the bookmark will continually update between the iPod and iTunes.  

High-Speed Transfers: Transfer time varies depending upon how much music you want to transfer from your computer to your iPod. With its FireWire connection, iPod can transfer data at up to 400 MB per second (Mbps), allowing you to transfer an entire CD in as little as 5 seconds. When you connect the iPod to your computer via FireWire, it not only syncs quickly, it charges itself in the process. If your Windows-based PC doesn't have a FireWire port, you can connect the iPod using USB 2.0, which transfers data at up to 480 Mbps. Note: Although the iPod is compatible with USB 1.1, data transfer speeds are much slower.

Auto-Synching: Each time you connect the iPod to your computer, the unit's Auto-Synch feature automatically updates it with any changes made to the iTunes program on your computer, including any new music purchased at the iTunes Music Store.

Song Ratings: You can assign a rating to a song from 1 to 5 stars to indicate how much you like it. Song ratings can be used to help you create playlists automatically in iTunes.

Smart Playlists: You can create customized Smart Playlists from the songs stored in your music library. Smart Playlists can include only certain genres of music, songs by certain artists, or songs that match particular criteria, such as songs rated 3 stars or higher or a playlist that's no more than 3 GB in size. After the Smart Playlist is created, any songs you import that meet the Smart Playlist criteria will be automatically added to the Smart Playlist.

System Requirements

Minimum Requirements for Macintosh: To use iPod with a Macintosh, you must have the following:

  • Macintosh with a built-in FireWire (IEEE 1394/i.LINK) port
  • Mac OS X v10.1.4 or later--some features require Mac OS X v10.2 or later
  • iTunes3 (included on the iPod CD) or later
  • iSync 1.0 and iCal 1.0.1 or later (optional for synchronizing contact and calendar information with iPod--works only with Mac OS X v10.2 or later)

Minimum Requirements for Windows: To use iPod with a Windows PC, you must have the following:

  • A Windows PC with 300 MHz or higher processing speed
  • 96 MB RAM (128 MB for Windows XP)
  • Windows 2000, Windows XP or later (Windows Me is not supported)
  • A built-in or Windows-certified FireWire card (IEEE 1394) installed, or a USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 port and the optional iPod Dock Connector to USB 2.0 + FireWire cable
  • MusicMatch Jukebox 7.5 (included on the CD) or later
 

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For a more in-depth review and enhanced detailed information on the Apple iPod™ 20GB, please visit the Crutchfield website product page (/ISEO-rccbcspd/p_472IPOD20G/Apple-iPod-20GB.html ).

Sorry, the Apple iPod™ 20GB is no longer available for purchase.

Apple iPod™ 20GB