 One of the most common questions to sales people is, "what is the difference between an iPod and an MP3 player?"
PMP devices, which is short for portable music player, is a term used to describe any digital portable music player that allows you to download or save digital music files (in MP3 format) from your computer or notebook to play on a PMP.
The category of PMP devices have all but replaced the larger Walkmans and portable CD players, not only due to their much smaller size but because you can store hundreds or thousands of songs on them.
The big question then is what's the difference between an iPod and an MP3 player? The answer to that questions is that both are MP3 players, but the iPod is a specific brand of MP3 player, made by Apple that has a specific set of features and design. Since the release of the Apple iPod in 2001, under the iPod brand Apple has released many variations of its product such as the iPod classic, iPod Touch, iPod Shuffle, iPod Mini, iPod Nano, iPod Touch, and several spin-off devices such as the iPod Photo.
Unlike most mass market MP3 players, the iPods use the Apple iTunes software to transfer music to the music devices. Using iTunes you can store a music library on your computer, burn music from CD, transfer photos, videos, game and small applications (when supported by the player) and many other features. There are open source alternatives available to iPod users who do not want (or who cannot) run the iTunes software.
The truth is there is no difference, at least in functionality. An iPod is an MP3 player. The iPod, although considered an MP3 player, has several traits that make it different from a regular MP3 player.
File-Playing Capabilities
An iPod is capable of playing AAC files, which is Apple's codec of music, and is the only player that can play AAC files downloaded from iTunes. But most other MP3 players have Windows Music Audio (WMA) codec playability, which the iPod does not possess.
Varieties
MP3 players might have different variants, but Apple simplifies this by incorporating an entire family into the fray: iPod Touch, iPod Classic, iPod Nano and so forth.
Hard-Drive Capabilities
Many MP3 players can also double as a backup hard drive. The iPod, on the other hand, is prohibited from doing so by Apple's programming.
The iPod Touch
The iPod touch is essentially an iPhone without a Phone, and offers apps and a PDA-like experience you don't normally get with an MP3 player. (Apple Peel 520 - Turn iPod touch into an iPhone)
FM Radio
The iPod does not contain an FM radio, although add-ons exist for one. Many other MP3 players such as the Zune include an FM radio built into the device.
The beauty of iPod is its simplicity spanned across the generation gaps and became a product that people of all ages could use and understand. Remember, there is no real difference between an iPod and any other MP3 player, except iPod has managed to take a potentially confusing process and make it easy, even for Grandma.
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