Editing IPod (section)

=== Market share ===
Since October 2004, the iPod line has dominated digital music player sales in the United States, with over 90% of the market for hard drive-based players and over 70% of the market for all types of players.<ref>Marsal, Katie. [https://archive.today/20120604184947/https://www.appleinsider.com/articles/06/05/24/ipod_how_big_can_it_get.html iPod: how big can it get?], ''[[AppleInsider]]'', May 24, 2006. Retrieved on February 17, 2007.</ref> During the year from January 2004 to January 2005, the high rate of sales caused its U.S. market share to increase from 31% to 65%, and in July 2005, this market share was measured at 74%. In January 2007, according to Bloomberg Online, the iPod market share reached 72.7%. In the Japanese market, iPod market share was 36% in 2005; nonetheless, it was still a market leader in the country.<ref name="Smith">{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Tony|title=iPod fails to impress South Koreans|url=https://www.theregister.com/2005/08/11/apple_ipod_sk/|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=www.theregister.com|archive-date=March 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325042521/https://www.theregister.com/2005/08/11/apple_ipod_sk/|url-status=live}}</ref> In Europe, Apple also led the market (especially the UK<ref>{{cite web|title=Mobile-review.com MP3-players – Global markets|url=https://mobile-review.com/print.php?filename=/mp3/articles/mp3-global-en.shtml|access-date=2021-03-26|website=mobile-review.com|archive-date=November 25, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061125191014/https://mobile-review.com/print.php?filename=/mp3/articles/mp3-global-en.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>); however, local brands such as [[Archos]] managed to outsell Apple in certain categories.<ref>{{cite web|last=Vilaga|first=Jennifer|date=June 1, 2005|title=Faster Talk: Apple in Their Eyes|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/52843/faster-talk-apple-their-eyes|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=Fast Company|language=en-US|archive-date=July 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728040746/https://mansueto-d.openx.net/w/1.0/arj?ju=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fastcompany.com%2F52843%2Ffaster-talk-apple-their-eyes&ch=UTF-8&res=800x600x24&ifr=false&tz=0&tws=1400x783&be=1&bc=hb_pb_3.0.3&dddid=cbc75e6c-08e7-4605-a802-616fb6aaea02%2Ccbc75e6c-08e7-4605-a802-616fb6aaea02&nocache=1722139666843&sua=%7B%22source%22%3A2%2C%22browsers%22%3A%5B%7B%22brand%22%3A%22%20Not%3BA%20Brand%22%2C%22version%22%3A%5B%2299%22%5D%7D%2C%7B%22brand%22%3A%22Google%20Chrome%22%2C%22version%22%3A%5B%2297%22%5D%7D%2C%7B%22brand%22%3A%22Chromium%22%2C%22version%22%3A%5B%2297%22%5D%7D%5D%2C%22mobile%22%3A0%2C%22model%22%3A%22%22%2C%22bitness%22%3A%2264%22%2C%22architecture%22%3A%22x86%22%7D&aus=300x600%2C300x250%7C300x600%2C300x250&divids=rail_sticky_2_2_1%2Crail_sticky_2_2_1&aucs=%2C&auid=538910929%2C538910929|url-status=live}}</ref>

One of the reasons for the iPod's early success, having been released three years after the very first [[digital audio player]] (namely the [[MPMan]]), was its seamless integration with the company's [[iTunes]] software, and the ecosystem built around it such as the [[iTunes Store|iTunes Music Store]], as well as a competitive price.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 1, 2003|title=The iPod wars|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/nov/01/netmusic.internet|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=The Guardian|archive-date=July 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728040720/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/nov/01/netmusic.internet|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, Apple achieved a dominance in the MP3 player market as Sony's [[Walkman]] did with personal cassette players two decades earlier.<ref name="knowledge.insead.edu">{{cite web|date=March 7, 2012|title=Innovation Success: How the Apple iPod Broke all Sony's Walkman Rules|url=https://knowledge.insead.edu/blog/insead-blog/innovation-success-how-the-apple-ipod-broke-all-sonys-walkman-rules-2791|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=INSEAD Knowledge|archive-date=March 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325042536/https://knowledge.insead.edu/blog/insead-blog/innovation-success-how-the-apple-ipod-broke-all-sonys-walkman-rules-2791|url-status=live}}</ref> The software similarity between computer and player made it easy to transfer music over and synchronize it, tasks that were considered difficult on pre-iPod MP3 players such as those from [[Rio (digital audio players)|Rio]] and [[Creative Technology|Creative]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Five reasons the iPod succeeded|url=https://www.macworld.com/article/182069/ipodfive.html|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=Macworld|language=en-US|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420231231/https://www.macworld.com/article/182069/ipodfive.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Creative Zen Micro ^ Apple iPod Mini - Flickr - dan taylor.jpg|thumb|Comparison of iPod Mini (right) and a competitor [[Creative Zen]] Micro (left)]]
Some of the iPod's chief competitors during its pinnacle include Creative's [[Creative Zen|Zen]], [[SanDisk]]'s [[SanDisk Sansa|Sansa]], [[Sony]]'s [[Walkman]], [[iriver]], and [[Samsung]]'s [[Yepp]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/ipod-rivals-ready-for-prime-time-at-last/ | title=IPod rivals ready for prime time at last? | website=[[ZDNet]] | access-date=April 20, 2022 | archive-date=January 19, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119081032/https://www.zdnet.com/article/ipod-rivals-ready-for-prime-time-at-last/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The iPod's dominance was challenged numerous times: in 2004 Sony's first hard disk Walkman was designed to take on the iPod, accompanied by its own music store [[Sony Connect]];<ref>{{cite web|last=Horwitz|first=Jeremy|date=December 6, 2004|title=The iPod Year in Review 2004|url=https://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/the-ipod-year-in-review-2004|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=iLounge|language=en-US|archive-date=March 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325042513/https://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/the-ipod-year-in-review-2004|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Uranaka|first=Taiga|date=July 2, 2004|title=Sony Walkman to go head to head with Apple's iPod|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2004/07/02/business/sony-walkman-to-go-head-to-head-with-apples-ipod/|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=The Japan Times|language=en-US|archive-date=March 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325042431/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2004/07/02/business/sony-walkman-to-go-head-to-head-with-apples-ipod/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Microsoft]] initially attempted to compete using a software platform called [[Portable Media Center]], and in later years designed the [[Microsoft Zune|Zune]] line;<ref>{{cite web|title=Zune vs. iPod: the battle begins {{!}} 1 {{!}} FORTUNE|url=https://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/fortune/zune/index.html|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=money.cnn.com|archive-date=July 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728040722/https://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/fortune/zune/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Marriott|first=Michel|date=November 13, 2006|title=Microsoft Counting on a Twist to Make Zune Shine in Shadow of iPod|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/13/technology/13zune.html|access-date=March 26, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=March 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325042626/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/13/technology/13zune.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the most vocal rival was Creative,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/global/2007/0212/046.html?sh=718be176143b | title=If You Can't Beat 'Em | website=[[Forbes]] | access-date=April 20, 2022 | archive-date=January 23, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123222951/https://www.forbes.com/global/2007/0212/046.html?sh=718be176143b | url-status=live }}</ref> whose CEO in November 2004 "declared war" on the iPod.<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Tony|title=Creative declares 'war' on Apple's iPod|url=https://www.theregister.com/2004/11/18/creative_vs_apple/|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=www.theregister.com|archive-date=March 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325042605/https://www.theregister.com/2004/11/18/creative_vs_apple/|url-status=live}}</ref> Samsung declared that they would take the top spot from Apple by 2007,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://macdailynews.com/2006/01/09/samsung_we_will_take_top_spot_in_music_players_from_apple_by_2007/ | title=Samsung: We will take top spot in music players from Apple by 2007 | date=January 9, 2006 | access-date=April 20, 2022 | archive-date=July 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728040723/https://macdailynews.com/2006/01/09/samsung_we_will_take_top_spot_in_music_players_from_apple_by_2007/ | url-status=live }}</ref> while SanDisk ran a specific anti-iPod marketing campaign called [[iDon't]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.engadget.com/2006-05-22-sandisk-wants-you-to-say-idont-to-ipod.html | title=SanDisk wants you to say iDon't to iPod | date=May 22, 2006 | access-date=April 20, 2022 | archive-date=April 15, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415230933/https://www.engadget.com/2006-05-22-sandisk-wants-you-to-say-idont-to-ipod.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/SanDisk_Takes_on_iPod_With_iDont_Web_Site/ | title=SanDisk Takes on iPod with 'iDon't' Web Site &#124; News &#124; iPodObserver | access-date=April 20, 2022 | archive-date=October 7, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007212405/https://www.ipodobserver.com/ipo/article/SanDisk_Takes_on_iPod_With_iDont_Web_Site/ | url-status=live }}</ref> These competitors failed to make major dents, and Apple remained dominant in the fast-growing digital audio player market during the decade.<ref>{{cite web|title=iPod Killers That Didn't|url=https://www.forbes.com/2006/10/19/tech-personal_cx_rr_ipod_killer_slide.html|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=Forbes}}</ref> Mobile phone manufacturers [[Nokia]] and [[Sony Ericsson]] also made "music phones" to rival iPod.<ref>{{cite web|last=Marks|first=Paul|title=New Nokia cellphone to challenge MP3 players|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn7312-new-nokia-cellphone-to-challenge-mp3-players/|access-date=March 26, 2021|website=New Scientist|language=en-US|archive-date=March 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325134214/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn7312-new-nokia-cellphone-to-challenge-mp3-players/|url-status=live}}</ref> 

A suggested factor of iPod's popularity has been cited to be Apple's popular iTunes Store catalog, playing a part in keeping Apple firmly market leader, while also helped by the mismanagement of others, such as Sony's unpopular [[SonicStage]] software.<ref>{{cite web|last=Horwitz|first=Jeremy|date=2004-12-06|title=The iPod Year in Review 2004|url=https://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/the-ipod-year-in-review-2004|access-date=2021-03-26|website=iLounge|language=en-US|archive-date=September 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917004537/https://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/the-ipod-year-in-review-2004|url-status=live}}</ref>

One notable exception where iPod was not faring well was in South Korea. As of 2005, Apple held a market share of less than 2%, compared to market leaders [[iriver]], [[Samsung Electronics|Samsung]] and [[Cowon]].<ref name="Smith" />

As of 2011, iPod held a 70% market share in global MP3 players.<ref>{{cite web |last=Goldman |first=David |title=Apple's iPod dilemma |url=https://money.cnn.com/2011/07/29/technology/apple_ipod_sales/index.htm |publisher=CNN |date=July 29, 2011 |access-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-date=March 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325042617/https://money.cnn.com/2011/07/29/technology/apple_ipod_sales/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Its closest competitor was noted to be the [[SanDisk Sansa|Sansa]] line from [[SanDisk]].<ref name="knowledge.insead.edu" />