If you needed any further indication that the iPod and the iPod mini are the epitome of the portable audio market, look no further than The iPod Year in Review 2004 article on iPodLounge.

The article reviews the tremendous launch of the iPod mini-- so successful that the international rollout had to be delayed because of unmet U.S. demand. It also discusses the efforts of competitors to keep pace, the impact of the iTunes Music Store, the wooing of corporate partners like H-P, Motorola, and the band U2, as well as missteps and the controversy over whether iPod Photo's current digital photo handling features makes the grade for inclusion in an otherwise fantastic set of features.

I think Jeremy Horowitz of iPodLounge did a fantastic job on this roundup. He produced a balanced piece for a site that caters mainly to the Apple's biggest fans. It would have been easy to sing Apple's praises and overlook some of the hesitations and missteps.