The iPod was launched slightly over 20 years in the past, without end altering the tech {industry} and serving to redefine Apple merchandise as luxurious objects — not simply devices.
The iPod is now lifeless.
Apple immediately discontinued the final iPod mannequin it nonetheless bought, the iPod Touch. And lest you suppose the corporate has one other media participant across the nook, its press release made it fairly clear the iPod isn’t any extra. Apple SVP of Worldwide Advertising, Greg Joswiak, says:
“Music has at all times been a part of our core at Apple, and bringing it to a whole bunch of tens of millions of customers in the best way iPod did impacted extra than simply the music {industry} — it additionally redefined how music is found, listened to, and shared.
Right now, the spirit of iPod lives on. We’ve built-in an unimaginable music expertise throughout all of our merchandise, from the iPhone to the Apple Watch to HomePod mini, and throughout Mac, iPad, and Apple TV. And Apple Music delivers industry-leading sound high quality with assist for spatial audio — there’s no higher approach to get pleasure from, uncover, and expertise music.”
I repeat: the iPod is lifeless.
I’ll admit, I don’t have too many sentimental phrases to share concerning the iPod. I used to be the bizarre Zune man, so that you’re higher off studying my colleague Callum’s retrospective if you happen to’d wish to scroll the ol’ click on wheel down reminiscence lane.
However even an Apple-averse man like myself can’t deny how necessary the iPod was. It was the uncommon category-defining product, one which married type and performance in a method few merchandise have since.
In fact, there are nonetheless loads of media gamers for the transportable music diehards on the market; Sony continues to be promoting Walkmans (Walkmen?) value hundreds of {dollars}. And it’s not just like the iPod Contact was promoting very effectively, or Apple wouldn’t have discontinued it. Most individuals’s music wants are served effectively sufficient by their iPhone and Android gadgets.
However as good as it’s to have telephones that may do a little bit of every part, there’s one thing to be stated a few system that was simply actually good at one factor.
Apple says it’ll proceed to promote the iPod Contact whereas provides final. One thing tells me they received’t final lengthy, if solely as a result of folks will purchase them out of nostalgia. It’s the top of an period, in spite of everything.
