Chapter 37. How iPods, iTunes, and Podcasting Work

How iPods, iTunes, and Podcasting Work

Was there digital music before the iPod? Contrary to what many people might think, the answer is yes. Well before the iPod became a technological and cultural sensation, millions of people were listening to digital music on their computers. And not just on their computers—they were listening to music on their portable music devices, called MP3 players.

Although the iPod certainly wasn’t the first device for playing digital music, it changed the way people listened to and purchased music, and became a part of the cultural landscape. Before the iPod, the people who primarily listened to ...

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