By the latter half of the decade, generic MP3 players were starting to mimic the features of the extremely popular iPod and Zune.

Once a name synonymous with innovation, Sony has been slow to capitalize on new trends like portable digital music, where it trails Apple Computer's popular iPod.

Apple is clearly the early leader with its iTunes online music store, which downloads and plays songs only on Apple's popular iPod handheld devices.

Apple's wildly popular iPod has a well-known Achilles' heel: over time, its rechargeable battery tends to lose its capacity to hold a charge.

For Apple, a master of hardware design, the low-margin music store helps drive sales of its popular and more profitable iPod handheld digital music players.

One of the most widely publicized detractor stunts took aim at Apple Computer's popular iPod.

Apple announced a new iPod Touch today at their "Let's talk iPhone event", an updated version of their most popular iPod.

EVEN Apple acknowledges that there is one place its popular iPod music players can't easily go: for a ride in an automobile.

Can the Walkman, the product that began the portable music revolution 26 years ago, make a comeback against the explosively popular iPod?

"The iPod touch has become the most popular iPod for us," said Jobs.