Refurbished iPod Photo (4th Generation) — inspected, function-tested, and ready to play. Confirm the exact capacity, color, and order number on this listing before you buy.
Product Overview
This refurbished iPod Photo (4th Generation) 60GB White (HP-branded) is a complete working iPod listing for buyers comparing model, capacity, and condition.
Use the identification table below to confirm the exact configuration and order-number record.
Choose Your Option
Refurbished iPod Photo (4th Generation) 60GB in White (HP-branded). Order PS493AA. 2-inch color display, photo slideshow support as an HP-branded variant.
You're viewing this optionAbout This iPod
The iPod Photo represented Apple's first step toward making the iPod a multimedia device rather than just a music player. Announced October 26, 2004, its 2-inch, 220x176 pixel, 65,536-color LCD was the first color display in the iPod line, capable of showing album art, photo slideshows, and TV output through Apple's AV cable (bundled at retail only with the 2004 launch models; sold separately afterward).
About This Variant
HP-branded 60GB iPod Photo from around April 2005 at about US$449. Same A1099 hardware as Apple’s 60GB models with an HP logo on the back; HP ended its iPod sales in fall 2005, and service history runs through HP rather than Apple. The announcement came on July 29, 2005.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Released | Around April 2005 |
| Discontinued | HP announced on July 29, 2005 that it would stop shipping HP-branded iPods; sales wound down that autumn |
| Original Price | Approx. US$449 |
| This Listing | PS493AA |
What the HP badge changes — and what it does not
This is a genuine HP-branded 60GB color-display iPod, ordered as PS493AA and cataloged by HP as MP7002. Hewlett-Packard did not build a different player: Apple made these for HP under a deal announced in January 2004, and the reference works describe the two as identical but for the badge — an HP logo added below the Apple logo on the back, and a retail box in HP’s house style.
What the badge changes: the marking on the back, the HP order number and box, and scarcity — far fewer of these were sold than the plain Apple units. What it does not change: the hardware. It is the same A1099 iPod with the same 2-inch color screen, the same Click Wheel, the same 30-pin dock connector and the same 1.8-inch drive bay, so every replacement part we list for the Apple 60GB fits this one, and it restores and syncs in exactly the same way. What no longer applies: in 2005 an HP-badged iPod had to go to an HP service center rather than an Apple Genius Bar. That routing ended with the program and is history, not a limitation on this unit — the cover that applies here is our own 1-year limited warranty.
What Changed
- Display: 2-inch 220x176 color LCD with 65,536 colors replacing the 160x128 monochrome LCD — the first color display in the iPod line
- Photo Support: JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PNG and — on a Mac — PSD photo viewing; TV output through Apple's AV cable (a 2004 launch-box item, later sold separately) for photo slideshows with music
- Interface: Same Click Wheel interface but with color UI elements and album art display during playback
What Refurbished Means
A refurbished iPod is a complete used iPod that has been inspected, cleaned, tested, and prepared for resale; it is not a sealed-new Apple retail unit.
| Area | What this listing means |
|---|---|
| Inspection | Function-tested complete iPod with model, controls, display, sync, and audio checked before sale. |
| Battery | A replacement battery is installed unless the listing states otherwise. |
| Battery Age | These iPods are about 21 years old. Original batteries are well beyond their design life. |
| Storage | Storage is tested during restore/sync checks. Unless flash-modded, the original 1.8-inch mechanical hard drive is a 20+ year-old part; treat remaining drive life as unknown. |
| Cosmetics | Cosmetic condition is listing-specific and may vary by shell, backplate, screen lens, and engraving wear. |
Charging & Connection
This iPod syncs and charges over USB or FireWire through the 30-pin dock connector. A real wall adapter is what revives a deeply discharged battery or finishes a restore: a FireWire wall adapter is the surest route, an iPod-era USB wall adapter works for some owners and not for others, and a modern phone charger or a computer USB port often does not.
Everyday charging and syncing over USB is a different matter and works normally — Apple’s own specification sheet for this iPod lists charging over FireWire and charging over USB 2.0 side by side. Apple rated a full charge at about 5 hours, with roughly 80% of the charge reached in about 3.
Battery Safety & Shipping
⚠️ Lithium-Ion / Li-Po Battery Safety. This product contains (or is) a rechargeable lithium-ion/lithium-polymer battery. Charge only with a compatible charger and unplug once fully charged. Avoid charging or storing in direct sunlight or other high-heat environments. Stop using and stop charging immediately if the battery swells, bulges, gets unusually hot, hisses, smokes, or leaks. Do not puncture, crush, bend, short-circuit, or try to "deflate" a swollen cell, and never press a lifted front panel or a bulging case back down — it can rupture the cell. On this iPod the pack lies behind the Click Wheel, not behind the screen, so a swelling cell usually shows itself as a center button that has gone stiff or stopped clicking while the ring around it still works, or as a front panel that no longer sits flush against the metal back. Stop using it and see the battery page. If electrolyte contacts your eyes, flush with clean water for 15 minutes without rubbing and seek medical care; on skin, wash with water and soap. Battery service should be done by a trained technician. Recycle through an electronics or universal-waste recycler, not household trash.
Shipping. A refurbished iPod shipped with its battery installed is handled as lithium-ion batteries contained in equipment (UN3481); a loose replacement cell is handled as a lithium-ion battery (UN3480). Carrier, packaging, and destination restrictions can vary, so follow the current checkout and shipping instructions for the offered route.
Exact Model Identification
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Order Number | PS493AA |
| Apple Model Number | A1099 |
| Capacity | 60GB |
| Color | White (HP-branded) |
| EMC | EMC 2022 |
Every variant in this generation shares the Apple model number A1099 — the order number is what identifies the exact unit. The order number is not engraved on the case: the back carries the model number (A1099), the EMC number and the serial number.
All Available Variants
| Order Number | Capacity | Color | Case | Released | Original Price | Refurb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M9585LL/A | 40GB | White | Thick | October 2004 | US$499 | View refurb |
| M9586LL/A | 60GB | White | Thick | October 2004 | US$599 | View refurb |
| M9829LL/A | 30GB | White | Thin | February 2005 | US$349 | View refurb |
| M9830LL/A | 60GB | White | Thick | February 2005 | US$449 (US$399 from June 28, 2005) | View refurb |
| PS492AA | 30GB | White (HP-branded) | Thin | ~April 2005 | ~US$349 | View refurb |
| PS493AA | 60GB | White (HP-branded) | Thick | ~April 2005 | ~US$449 | This page |
| MA079LL/A | 20GB | White | Thin | June 2005 | US$299 | View refurb |
| MA127LL/A | 20GB | Black/Red (U2 Special Edition) | Thin | June 2005 | US$329 | View refurb |
Two different 60GB white iPods exist here, and they are not interchangeable. M9586LL/A is the October 2004 launch unit (US$599, sold with the full retail bundle) and it is built on the earlier logic-board and screen family. M9830LL/A is the February 2005 replacement (US$449, dropping to US$399 on June 28, 2005), sold with a slimmed-down box — the dock and the AV cable became separate purchases — and it is the 60GB unit that Apple's optional iPod Camera Connector supports. It uses the later board and screen family. Read the order number engraved on the back before ordering a screen, a logic board or a whole unit: the capacity alone will not tell you which one you have.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Processor | Photo logic platform (dual ARM7TDMI, 80 MHz) |
| RAM | 32 MB |
| Storage | 60GB Toshiba 1.8" IDE HDD |
| Display | 2" Color TFT 220x176 |
| Audio CODEC | Wolfson WM8975 |
| Battery (Original) | Li-Ion, Apple-rated 15 hours music / 5 hours photo slideshow (616-0206 family) |
| Battery Life (Music) | 15 hours |
| Battery Life (Photo Slideshow) | 5 hours (Apple’s rating is “without video out”) |
| Case Depth | Thick |
| Order Number | PS493AA |
| Revision | HP Invent Edition |
| Model Number | A1099 |
What's Included
- Refurbished iPod
- 1-year limited warranty
Ships as the iPod only — no cable, wall charger, or headphones are included.
The 1-year limited warranty above is our own cover on this unit and runs from your purchase. The original 2004–05 manufacturer warranty expired long ago and does not apply.
Fitting is not part of this listing. This is a complete, assembled, tested iPod; where we offer fitting on a component, it is a separate choice you make when you order and is never folded into a price.
Compatibility
Modern Sync Notes
- Broad compatibility: works with all popular Windows versions — Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11 — as well as Macs. The iPod shipped with iTunes 4.7; on a current machine the tool is iTunes for Windows, or the newer Apple Devices app, and Finder on recent macOS.
- macOS: macOS Sequoia 15.4 and later can break native iPod recognition for some owners; if Finder or Apple Music does not see the iPod, use Windows iTunes or an older Mac for restore and sync.
- Windows: iTunes for Windows, or the newer Apple Devices app, is the restore and sync route on current Windows. There are no separate drivers to chase. An older iTunes build is only needed if you want click-wheel games; music syncs from current builds.
- Streaming: These iPods do not provide native Spotify, Apple Music streaming, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
Original System Requirements
- Minimum Mac OS: Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later over FireWire; syncing over USB 2.0 needs Mac OS X 10.3.4 or later
- Host Port: High-power USB 2.0 or FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394)
- Windows: Windows 2000 Service Pack 4; Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later
Photo Sync Requirements
- Mac: iPhoto 4.0.3 or later
- Windows: Adobe Photoshop Album 1.0 or later, or Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 or later, or My Pictures folder
Known OS Compatibility Issues
- macOS Sequoia 15.x: Legacy iPod recognition may be unreliable on newer macOS releases; 32-bit iTunes unavailable. Workaround: Use Windows standalone iTunes or an older Mac with a known-good iPod sync path.
Rockbox
Status: Supported
Build: IPOD_COLOR
Stable port. Target name is 'ipodcolor' (not 'ipodphoto').
iTunes Compatibility
- Minimum: iTunes 4.7
- Recommended: iTunes 12.6.5
- Note: iTunes 4.7 shipped with the iPod Photo (October 2004). Photo sync required iPhoto 4.0.3+ on Mac.iTunes 12.6.5.3 is the last build for click-wheel games and Store access; newer iTunes builds can still sync music to click-wheel iPods.
Flash Storage Upgrade
A stock refurbished iPod can keep its original storage style, but many buyers choose flash storage when they want a quieter, lower-power player with fewer moving parts. See the 128GB Flash Mod Kit (IDE flash adapter + 128GB SD Card Included) page for the DIY kit, capacity options, and card guidance.
| Topic | Buyer Guidance |
|---|---|
| Why buyers upgrade | No moving parts, silent operation, lower power draw, improved battery life, and room for higher-capacity libraries. |
| Maximum confirmed capacity | The DIY kit is sold as a 128GB configuration, and 256GB on a single SDXC card is the largest capacity the adapter maker lists as confirmed for this model. Our ready-built flash iPods are offered at higher installed capacities too — the flash-mod listing names the capacity you are choosing. This iPod has no 128GB addressing ceiling; that limit belongs to the 6th-generation iPod classic, not to this generation. |
| Format requirement | SDXC cards (64GB+) must be pre-formatted to FAT32 — default exFAT not supported by original firmware. A flash iPod bought ready-built from us arrives already formatted and restored; this matters if you later change the card yourself. |
| Rockbox | Rockbox is supported (IPOD_COLOR); Stable port. Target name is 'ipodcolor' (not 'ipodphoto'). |
Buyer FAQ
What should I check when it arrives?
Confirm the order number, capacity, color, and Apple model number against Exact Model Identification. Then test charging, sync/restore, controls, audio, hold switch, display, and several full tracks before loading your library. Two sequences are worth knowing before you need them: to reset, hold Menu + Select until the Apple logo appears; for Disk Mode, reset and then hold Select + Play/Pause. This iPod has no Volume Limit setting in its menus — Apple added that to later models — so there is no volume lock to hunt for. This listing is for 60GB, White (HP-branded), PS493AA.
Does this work with my Mac or PC?
Use the Compatibility section for generation-specific requirements. For current machines, Windows iTunes is often the simplest restore path; on newer macOS versions, use Finder or Apple Music first and fall back to an older Mac or Windows iTunes if the iPod is not recognized.
How long does the battery last on a used one?
Runtime depends on battery age, capacity, storage type, and backlight use. For scale, Apple rated this iPod at up to 15 hours of music and up to 5 hours of photo slideshows without video out from a full charge, and put a full charge at about 5 hours. A new replacement cell in the 616-0206 family is fitted before the iPod ships, unless the listing says otherwise. We do not quote a milliamp-hour number for it, because published capacities for this model’s replacement cells contradict one another — the battery page explains why to shop by the part number rather than by an mAh claim. A flash build draws less power than the original hard drive, so it will generally run longer on the same cell.
What is different about this exact variant?
HP-branded 60GB iPod Photo from around April 2005 at about US$449. Same A1099 hardware as Apple’s 60GB models with an HP logo on the back; HP ended its iPod sales in fall 2005, and service history runs through HP rather than Apple. The announcement came on July 29, 2005. Identify it by capacity 60GB, color White (HP-branded), or order number PS493AA.
Should I buy stock or Flash-Storage Modded?
Choose stock if you want the original hard-drive experience and the lowest complexity. Choose a flash build if you want solid-state storage, lower power draw and no spinning drive. On this generation the conversion uses a single-card ATA1 IDE-to-SD adapter in place of the 1.8-inch hard drive; our ready-built flash iPods name the installed capacity you are choosing, and the DIY kit page covers doing it yourself.
Will it work with my car's USB port?
Sometimes, and it is the car that decides. Owners report modern car USB ports answering "unsupported version", or doing nothing at all, with this iPod — one names an iPod photo on software 1.2.1 refused by a 2009 car. This iPod syncs and charges over USB with a computer, so a car port that refuses it is an accessory-support limit in the car, not a fault in the iPod, and there is no software update that bridges it: this model's software ended at 1.2.1. What does work: the car's aux input with a headphone cable, or a dock/line-out cable into aux, and a USB wall adapter or the car's 12V socket for charging. If you are buying for a specific car, check that car's iPod support before you plan on the USB port.
Restore & sync
Every restore on this iPod ends the same way, whether you are setting it up fresh or recovering it after a stall. Copy anything you want to keep off the iPod first — a restore erases it — then restore with iTunes for Windows, or the newer Apple Devices app, on a PC (Finder on recent macOS).
Restore & sync: what is the wall-outlet-and-plug picture?
Owners describe it as a picture of a plug and a wall outlet that the iPod will not move past. It is not a fault. In Apple's words, as quoted in the repair record: "This icon appears on the screen during an update or restore that occurs when iPod is connected to the computer via a low or no-power connector. This can include some USB ports and 4-pin FireWire ports. When this appears, disconnect iPod from the computer and connect it to the power adapter." The install finishes on wall power and the iPod restarts on its own. A real wall adapter is what finishes a restore: a FireWire wall adapter is the surest route, an iPod-era USB wall adapter works for some owners and not for others, and a modern phone charger or a computer USB port often does not. Copy anything you want to keep off the iPod first — a restore erases it.
Restore & sync: my restore ended in a sad face or a wall-plug loop
One owner describes it exactly: a fresh restore on a just-bought used iPod, the software asks partway through for a power adapter, a phone's USB charger goes on instead of an iPod-era one, and the unit then loops sad-iPod and wall-outlet pictures. The restore is unfinished, not necessarily broken. A real wall adapter is what finishes a restore: a FireWire wall adapter is the surest route, an iPod-era USB wall adapter works for some owners and not for others, and a modern phone charger or a computer USB port often does not. Give it a proper wall-power session, then run the restore again from the start — copy anything you want to keep off the iPod first, because a restore erases it. If the sad face survives a finished restore, test the drive next: enter disk mode and listen for spin-up.
Restore & sync: songs skip part-way through
One owner describes every song playing about half a minute, stuttering, then hopping to the next track. Work software first. Reset with Menu + Select and try again; if it persists, copy anything you want to keep off the iPod — a restore erases it — then restore with iTunes for Windows, or the newer Apple Devices app (Finder on recent macOS) and re-sync the music fresh rather than restoring from a backup, so a damaged library file is not put straight back. If clean songs still skip after that, suspect the drive: one owner's skipping was cured by a drive replacement, and a reviewer of this model at launch recorded occasional unexplained pauses when loading new songs, so a single stutter is not proof on its own.
Why people land on this part
Common Names & Search Terms
Buyers find this iPod using these names and phrases:
Product Names
hp ipod photo, hp ipod photo 60gb, hp invent ipod, ipod photo refurbished, ipod photo for sale, ipod with color display, ipod color, ipod classic 4th generation photo, vintage ipod photo a1099, M9585LL/A, M9586LL/A, M9829LL/A, M9830LL/A, MA079LL/A, MA127LL/A, PS492AA, PS493AA
What Buyers Are Looking For
best ipod for photos, ipod for car stereo, offline music player 2026, ipod for large music library, ipod for audiophile, ipod wolfson dac, best sounding ipod, best ipod to mod
Collector & Enthusiast Terms
u2 ipod color, rarest ipod photo, ipod photo sealed
Compatibility Questions
rockbox ipod color, iPod flash mod photo, ipod photo itunes, ipod photo work with modern mac
Other Models to Consider
Compare refurbished iPods across the other model families, or jump to flash mods for this generation:
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