Apple Ends iPod Line After 20 Years: A History of the Iconic Music Player, Major Models and Launch Dates

Apple launched the world to the iPod over 20 years in the past. Little did we all know on the time that the small, pocket-sized {hardware} would revolutionise the music listening expertise for the subsequent era. With the arrival of the transportable media participant (PMP), the period of transportable cassette and compact disc gamers ended as individuals had been now capable of load a whole bunch of songs on one thing even lighter and extra compact. Whereas there have been transportable media participant rivals earlier than and after the launch of the iPod, none managed to steal the limelight from Apple’s providing. iPod captivated customers for over 20 years, and now Apple has determined to drag the plug on one of many iconic merchandise of this era’s golden years.

In a press release relating to the discontinuation, Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vp of Worldwide Advertising, stated, “Music has at all times been a part of our core at Apple, and bringing it to a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of customers in the best way iPod did impacted extra than simply the music business — it additionally redefined how music is found, listened to, and shared. At this time, the spirit of iPod lives on. We have built-in an unbelievable music expertise throughout all of our merchandise, from the iPhone to the Apple Watch to HomePod mini, and throughout Mac, iPad, and Apple TV.”

As we bid adieu to iPod, here’s a temporary historical past of the lineup, with particulars of some essential fashions and iPod launch dates.

• October 23, 2001: The unique Traditional iPod was launched on this date. This was the primary audio-only MP3 participant from Apple, and allowed customers to pack as much as 1,000 songs. It received a small white display screen, was accessible in 5GB and 10GB fashions, and sported clicky buttons to regulate music playback. The iPod (because the collection was initially named, it was renamed the Traditional iPod later) provided up a 10-hour battery life. It laid the inspiration for the music business to rethink its enterprise mannequin. Apple went on to launch refined fashions over the subsequent three years bringing in bigger storage choices, larger battery life, and including a color show. It was discontinued in 2014.

  It was throughout this time that Sony had the market in its management. Although Sony launched its digital audio gamers earlier than Apple launched iPod gamers, the Japanese firm could not replicate the success of its Walkman transportable cassette gamers and Discman transportable CD gamers within the new phase.

• February 20, 2004: The subsequent benchmark was set on February 20, 2004 when Apple launched iPod mini. It provided every thing one may have considered — longer battery life, smaller measurement, flashy color choices, a click on wheel, and a terrific music expertise.

  Sony would now ramp up its gamers with new know-how. It even began engaged on Walkman-branded cellphones that used to supply a terrific music expertise. The competitors out there elevated with the introduction of the Artistic Zen collection, Microsoft’s Zune, and iRiver MP3 gamers.

• September 25, 2006: A 12 months and half after launching iPod mini, Apple stepped as much as shrink the participant’s measurement extra and launched iPod nano. But it surely was the second era iPod Nano — launched on September 25, 2006 — that grabbed eyeballs resulting from its anodised aluminium casing, six color choices, a vivid color show, storage massive sufficient to pack as much as 2,000 songs, and an enormous as much as 24-hour battery life.

• September 5, 2007: The competitors out there continued to rise with the introduction of higher MP3 gamers from Artistic, Sony iRiver, and Microsoft Zune (within the US). Apple introduced the iPod contact with a multi-touch interface and the power to play movies.

• September 12, 2012: Apple launched the iPod nano (seventh era), and says that it’s the thinnest iPod ever (5.4mm) within the historical past of iPods. It featured a ‘massive’ 2.5-inch multi-touch show. Other than music, this iPod additionally supported video playback. It received Bluetooth connectivity, and the 30-pin dock connector was changed with a brand new Lightning connector.

• July 15, 2015: Although Apple launched iPod shuffle (4th era) in July 2015, earlier fashions within the collection – first launched in 2005 – had been additionally a hit resulting from its small measurement. This iPod shuffle provided as much as 15 hours of battery life, 2GB of storage, and a VoiceOver button to listen to a music title, playlist title, or battery standing. Apple discontinued iPod nano, and iPod shuffle in 2017.

• Might 28, 2019: iPod contact (seventh era) made its debut with A10 Fusion chip. It’s greater than a music listening system because it comes with augmented actuality experiences and Group FaceTime. Apple says the iPod contact will probably be accessible whereas provides final.

The iPod redefined how music was listened to, and was made accessible in varied kind elements because the years progressed. Certainly most of us that owned an iPod has fond recollections of it. Will or not it’s missed? Positively. Does it nonetheless have a spot out there? Most likely not. Goodbye, iPod!